When the Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent infielder Buddy Kennedy on September 1 of last year, just in time for the 27-year-old to be eligible for the team’s postseason roster, they could not have known that the four-year veteran would qualify for a World Series ring — no matter which team won.
Kennedy, a fifth-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2017 out of Millville Senior High School in New Jersey — had already played for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, getting into seven games with one hit in 17 at-bats.
That meant, once both the Dodgers and Blue Jays won their respective league championship series, Kennedy was guaranteed a World Series ring — and a winners’ cash bonus — no matter who won.
But shortly after the World Series, Kennedy elected free agency and very quietly accepted a contract offer from the San Francisco Giants on December 15, according to the transactions report on his MiLB.com page.
Though they signed him apparently as possible postseason depth, the Blue Jays did not select Kennedy for their playoff roster and, in fact, did not even give him an at-bat with the major league club in his second Toronto stint last year. The Blue Jays earlier signed him on July 9 after the three-position infielder was designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Blue Jays Let Kennedy Go — Again
First arriving in the big leagues in 2022, Kennedy has run out of options, which means that the Blue Jays could not simply assign him to a minor league affiliate. Instead, they were required to designate him for assignment — twice in 2025. Each time, Kennedy elected free agency rather than accept a minor league assignment. But he ended up spending most of the season in the minors anyway.
Kennedy comes with a shiny baseball pedigree. The grandson of longtime Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Don Money, who played in the major leagues from 1968 to 1983, he counts Los Angeles Angels future Hall of Fame outfielder Mike Trout as his close friend and mentor. Trout also played high school ball at Millville.
Former Top-20 Arizona Prospect
The infielder started his minor league career on a promising track, rising to be the Diamondbacks’ No. 19 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, by 2019.
But despite a solid minor league career with 66 home runs and an .816 OPS over eight seasons, Kennedy has never been able to make a successful adjustment to major league pitching. In 181 plate appearances with five different teams, Kennedy has managed only 28 hits, including two home runs, and a .545 OPS.
Kennedy Will Battle for Playing Time in SF
While his major league numbers are unimpressive, to say the least, “Kennedy’s calling card is his defensive versatility. Kennedy has a lot of experience at first, second and third base, plus some work as a shortstop and left fielder,” according to a report by Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors.
“Playing time figures to be scarce on a Giants’ infield that has a set starter at every position except second base,” Polishuk continued. “Christian Koss, Tyler Fitzgerald and Osleivis Basabe are all ahead of Kennedy on the depth chart. Kennedy’s out-of-option status won’t help his chances of breaking camp, but he could stick at the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate as a depth option.”
Blue Jays Quietly Lose Infielder With World Series Ring as Giants Make Move