Blue Jays Make Bold Move With Kevin Kiermaier Ahead of Trade Deadline

He re-upped in Toronto this past winter after spending the 2023 season with the Blue Jays, but Kevin Kiermaier has not had the same impact on the team in 2024, batting just .183 with only five stolen bases and an OPS+ of just 48.

The Blue Jays have now decided to put the veteran outfielder on revocable waivers Thursday afternoon, even while he stands out in center field as Toronto plays the San Francisco Giants.

In fact, he even displayed his customary stellar outfield play in this game.

Kevin Kiermaier makes it look easy 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/3vZ0Fu4PIp
— MLB (@MLB) July 11, 2024

Nevertheless, to the waiver wire KK goes. That is allowed, even while a player is currently in action. Ever the class act, Kiermaier said after the game that he completely gets it.

Kiermaier: "I totally get it with the way that I've played.

I don't get emotional over things like that or things that might tick other people off. We'll see what happens. ... I'm not offended, not mad. You've got to be realistic about the situation and be accountable."
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) July 11, 2024

"I totally get it with the way that I've played," said Kiermaier. "I don't get emotional over things like that or things that might tick other people off. We'll see what happens. ... I'm not offended, not mad. You've got to be realistic about the situation and be accountable.

"It's more of a wakeup call than anything — saying, hey, I don't know how much time I do have left in a certain way. So, if that's the case, I'm going to embrace everyone around here like I always do. Just take it day by day and see what happens."

The move was certainly to put out feelers to see if another team would put in a claim, even though there's about $4.5 million left on the $10.5 million, one-year contract he signed with the Jays. It's an intriguing move ahead of the trade deadline, in which Toronto would hope to get an idea of which teams to give a call to in hopes of dealing him.

And while the 34-year-old can definitely still go get it in center, his offense has hit rock bottom, as his 48 OPS+ is the 7th-worst in all of baseball for players with over 175 plate appearances.

Last season with the Jays, Kiermaier was more than serviceable, batting .265 with a 103 OPS+ along with 14 stolen bases.