Ernie Clement's shows true colors on being moved from third base

When Clement told MLB Network, «I love it. I love bouncing around,» he wasn't selling humility, he was selling value.

He knows exactly what that job does, it gets other bats in, it keeps the manager loose, it lets the hot hand stay hot.

That line about helping «the manager play the hot hand» is the part that sticks with me.

John Schneider isn't guessing when he moves Clement around, he's cashing a cheque Clement wrote with his glove and his attitude.

The sneaky thing is, this isn't some glove-only bench guy anymore. In 2025 he hit .277 with a .711 OPS, popped nine homers, and did it while playing basically every day, which is a sharp turn from the «nice story» label he wore early on.

And the defense is the anchor. Clement won the Fielding Bible Multi-Position Award, and Sportsnet noted he led MLB with 22 defensive runs saved while bouncing across the infield, that's not cute versatility, that's impact.

Now zoom out to what this means heading into 2026.

Clement was a fourth-round pick back in 2017, then a minor-league deal in 2023, and he's still playing like he's got something to prove, because he probably does.

That edge matters on a team that's trying to keep its floor high for 162 games.

Honestly, I get a little jolt when Schneider points at Clement and you still don't know where he's headed.

This is also why pitchers breathe easier behind him.

MLB.com had him as a legit postseason force, batting .386 through 14 games with only three strikeouts, and that's the part the rest of the league finally noticed, the glove travels, but the bat showed up when it got loud.

Toronto has always loved the dirty-uniform guys, the ones who turn little edges into wins, and Clement fits that vein while bringing more offense than the old folk heroes.

He's not a mascot, he's a solution you can plug into three different problems without blinking.

So when Clement says he loves bouncing around, believe him.

It's not charity for the roster, it's a blueprint, keep him moving, keep matchups fresh, and let younger hitters breathe without forcing them to carry the whole week.

The Blue Jays have even floated he idea of moving him over to first base next season as Vladimir Guerrero Jr's back up.

If the Blue Jays are serious about playing meaningful baseball deep into the season again, they need more players who chase usefulness, not ego.

Clement's already there, and the rest of the lineup should take notes.