Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Retreating to bench Thursday
Rotowire
Kiermaier is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.
Though the Blue Jays are facing off against right-hander Taj Bradley on Thursday, the lefty-hitting Kiermaier will get a breather for the day game after he started in center field in Wednesday night's 6-3 win. Davis Schneider will pick up a start in the outfield in place of Kiermaier, who made headlines Wednesday by announcing that the 2024 season would be the last of his 11-year MLB career.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Retiring after 2024 season
Rotowire
Kiermaier, who is starting in center field and batting eighth Wednesday against the Rays, said he plans to retire after the end of the 2024 season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 34-year-old was placed on waivers by the Blue Jays just before the All-Star break, but he went unclaimed and continues to see the field for Toronto. Kiermaier had a resurgent 2023 campaign with a .265/.322/.419 slash line in 129 games for the Blue Jays, but he has a career-worst .553 OPS through 76 contests this year and has elected to hang up his cleats at season's end. He's a candidate to be moved ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, but given that he's making $10.5 million this year and has already cleared waivers, there likely won't be significant trade interest.
Kiermaier is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rays.
Kiermaier will take a seat Tuesday with southpaw Tyler Alexander expected to follow opener Shawn Armstrong for Tampa Bay. Kiermaier is 2-for-5 with a double and two runs since the All-Star break.
Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Kiermaier is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Kiermaier started the first two games coming out of the All-Star break but will sit Sunday after going 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and two strikeouts. Daulton Varsho will shift to center field while Davis Schneider receives a start in left.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Hits grand slam Sunday
Rotowire
Kiermaier went 1-for-4 with a grand slam in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Diamondbacks.
Kiermaier capped off a seven-run rally against Zac Gallen with a first-pitch grand slam in the fourth to put the Blue Jays up 7-0. The long ball was his second this month and his fourth on the year. Sunday marked just the third time this season Kiermaier drove in multiple runs. He's now up to 18 RBI and has driven in five over his past two starts. For the year, the 34-year-old is slashing .189/.234/.306 with 11 extra-base hits, 21 runs and a 10:62 BB:K in 196 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Kiermaier is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Even with righty Yilber Diaz on the mound for Arizona, the lefty-hitting Kiermaier will take a seat. Kiermaier cleared waivers Friday and it seems as though he'll remain with the Blue Jays for the time being. Davis Schneider, Daulton Varsho and George Springer fill the outfield from left to right Saturday.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Clears waivers, starting Friday
Rotowire
Kiermaier told Hazel Mae of Sportsnet that he has cleared waivers, and he is starting in center field and batting eighth in Friday's series opener against the Diamondbacks.
Kiermaier was placed on revocable waivers Thursday, after the 34-year-old has slashed just .183/.232/.290 with a 32.3 percent strikeout rate this season. He will remain in Toronto for now with no team having claimed him off waivers, and the Blue Jays have the option of keeping him around or releasing him from the roster. Kiermaier re-signed with the Blue Jays in the offseason on a one-year, $10.5 million contract.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Put on waivers
Rotowire
Kiermaier, who is in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants, was placed on waivers earlier in the day, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
The 34-year-old re-signed with Toronto on a one-year, $10.5 million contract this offseason, but while he still offers strong defense in center field, he's struggled at the plate in 2024 with a .183/.232/.290 slash line in 70 games. Given Kiermaier's poor production and remaining salary, it's unlikely another team will be willing to put in a waiver claim, so he could stick with the Blue Jays until the club elects to outright him off the roster.
Kiermaier isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Tuesday versus the Giants.
Kiermaier had started in the last four games and went 2-for-13 with a home run in that stretch. Davis Schneider enters the lineup in left field with Daulton Varsho shifting over to center.
