Clement, Gimenez and other former Guardians make Blue Jays clubhouse feel like home

Moments after the Seattle Mariners advanced to the American League Championship Series with a thrilling 15-inning win over the Detroit Tigers, first baseman Josh Naylor of Mississauga, Ont., was asked about getting to play post-season baseball in Toronto.

Naylor said playing against his hometown Blue Jays would be "just another team we've gotta beat," but that getting to see some of his friends who are on Toronto's roster, guys he had come up with in the Cleveland Guardians organization, that was another matter.

"They're a phenomenal group, managed by a great manager, they have awesome players," Naylor told Sportsnet on the field at Seattle's T-Mobile Park. "I'm really excited to see Straw, Gimenez, Sandlin and Ernie. Those are my boys.

“I'm happy we're all there. We were all Cleveland boys at one point, and they all traded us, and now we're going."

The players Naylor listed off are Blue Jays outfielder Myles Straw, relief pitcher Nick Sandlin as well as infielders Andres Gimenez and Ernie Clement. Pitcher Shane Bieber, who will be Toronto's starter in Game 3 on Wednesday in Seattle at 8:08 p.m. ET, is also a former member of the Guardians.

"That put a big smile on my face, and I'm sure all the other guys, because we love Nayls," said Clement in the home dugout at Rogers Centre on Monday. "He's one of the best teammates I've ever had, and we're always rooting for him, so it's really cool to share the field with him again."

All five of the former Guardians arrived in Toronto by different means.

Clement signed a minor-league deal with the Blue Jays in March 2023 after a stint with the then-Oakland Athletics. Gimenez and Sandlin were traded to Toronto in December. Straw was acquired in a separate deal a month after that,