The Toronto Blue Jays were handed some bad news on Anthony Santander as camp is about to begin.
Toronto signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal last offseason to bolster its lineup. However, he dealt with injuries all season, as he was limited to just 54 games, and was shut down again in the playoffs.
However, the expectation was that Santander would be healthy for camp. But, as some players reported to Dunedin, Blue Jays manager John Schneider announced that Santander will need surgery and is out for 4-6 months.
“Anthony Santander will undergo left labral surgery tomorrow and will miss 5-6 months per John Schneider. Had a setback in January when ramping up hitting. Jays hope he comes back later in the season,” Blue Jays insider Ben Nicholson-Smith reported on X.
Santander going under the knife is a major blow to the Blue Jays lineup, as the slugger was expected to be a key part of their roster.
Santander finished the year hitting .175 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs.
Blue Jays Had High Expectations for Santander
Toronto signed Santander last offseason to be a key part of its offense, but it didn’t work out.
After having an offseason to rehab, the hope was that he would enter camp ready to go and be a key part of the offense. Blue Jays manager John Schneider said at the Winter Meetings that Santander would be a key part of the roster.
“Tony is going to be huge for us,” said Schneider. “Speaking to him at the end of the year and in the postseason, he battled to get back. … He wanted to be part of it so bad. He wanted to get off on the right foot. It didn’t happen.”
Schneider, meanwhile, said Santander is motivated to get back, which will not happen anytime soon now.
“He is motivated. He is hungry to get back to the player we know he is,” Schneider added. “He’s a big part of what we’re doing. Again, I don’t want him. I’ve told him this, ‘I don’t want you to think you have to do anything you don’t do well. You don’t have to come back and hit .300 with 50 homers to make up for last year.’ We need Tony to fit in the way we know he can when we signed him.”
When exactly Santander will be able to play in 2026, if at all, is to be seen. But this is a major blow to the Blue Jays roster.
How Will Toronto Replace Santander?
Santander was expected to play a corner outfield role for the Blue Jays, and luckily, the team has a surplus of outfielders.
George Springer will remain the team’s DH. The outfield is expected to feature Daulton Varsho in center, and Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes holding onto a corner outfield spot.
The Blue Jays also have Myles Straw, Joey Loperfido, and Davis Schneider who can also play the infield, as outfield options.
However, perhaps Toronto does look to the free agent market or a trade to add another impact bat to replace the void of Santander.
Blue Jays Get Horrible News on Anthony Santander After Injury-Filled 2025 Season