Report: 4-time Gold Glove winner Kiermaier placed on waivers by Jays

According to the report, Kiermaier said after Toronto’s 5-3 win over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday that “it’s the chance for a contending team to claim me if they want,” and that he “totally get[s] it with where we’re at as a team.”

Where the Jays are is seven games below .500 and 8 1/2 games out of an American League Wild Card spot. It’s been a disappointing first half for Toronto, a club with postseason aspirations at the outset of the season.

Stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and others haven’t had stellar seasons and, in the case of Bichette — currently sidelined with a calf injury — it’s been a particularly tough slog so far. The shortstop has a .596 OPS after he never finished below .800 in any of his first five Major League seasons.

Kiermaier, 34, has always been a strong defensive center fielder, but he’s hitting only .191/.238/.295. The four-time Gold Glove winner is earning $10.5 million this year and is due to be a free agent after this season. If no other team claims him, the Jays can retain him on the 40-man roster or outright him or release him.

Even while Kiermaier is on waivers, he can continue to play. On Thursday against the Giants, he went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.