Blue Jays place Kiermaier on waivers

The Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on waivers, the veteran confirmed to Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling and Shi Davidi.

Kiermaier was notified of the move by manager John Schneider following the Blue Jays' win over the San Francisco Giants. He'll remain with the team for now and will remain eligible to play in their games unless he's claimed.

"I totally get it with the way that I've played," Kiermaier told Zwelling and Davidi. "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."

Any team that successfully claims Kiermaier would be responsible for the remainder of his $10.5-million salary this season. He's owed about $4.5 million over the balance of 2024, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Despite already being on waivers, Kiermaier started in center field for the Blue Jays on Thursday and went 2-for-4 at the plate while making a web-gem catch on defense.

The four-time Gold Glove winner is in his second season with the Blue Jays after spending his first decade with the Tampa Bay Rays. He re-signed with the Blue Jays in the winter after a bounce-back 2023 season that saw him post a .741 OPS and win a Gold Glove.

While he's continued to shine defensively, accruing seven defensive runs saved and seven outs above average in center field, Kiermaier's hitting a career-worst .191/.238/.295 with three homers through his first 71 games. His value to contenders would likely be confined to serving as a late-game defensive replacement.

"It's the chance for a contending team to claim me if they want, from what I was just told," Kiermaier said. "I totally get it with where we're at as a team."

The move hints at the Blue Jays being ready to sell at this year's trade deadline. Toronto entered Thursday sitting eight games under .500 and 8.5 games out of a playoff spot despite sporting the majors' eighth-highest payroll.