It’s bad enough when a big-money signing underperforms. It’s worse when that signing is supposed to be the cornerstone of your offseason. And for the Toronto Blue Jays, Anthony Santander has quickly become a $92.5 million nightmare.
Bleacher Report didn’t mince words, naming Santander’s five-year deal the fifth cringiest contract in Major League Baseball this season. It’s not hard to see why.
Santander was signed to slug. He was supposed to bring a lefty-righty power combo and give protection to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Instead, he’s batting .179 with a .273 on-base percentage and a .304 slugging mark in 50 games. He has six home runs, 18 RBIs, and a staggering -0.9 WAR. That ranks him among the least productive regulars in all of baseball.
Let that sink in: among 223 players with at least 200 plate appearances in 2025, Santander’s slugging percentage is 212th.
For a guy who mashed 44 homers last season in Baltimore and was brought in as Toronto’s offensive splash, that’s beyond disappointing. It’s devastating.
A Painful Fit From the Start
Toronto’s pursuit of Santander was a long time coming. The Blue Jays had whiffed on other marquee names in recent offseasons and finally landed a big bat in January. They gave Santander five years and $92.5 million, including $61.75 million in deferred payments. That’s franchise-player money—and they’ve gotten below replacement-level performance.
What’s worse is that he was still “healthy” for most of the season before going down with a partially dislocated shoulder in late May. Even before the injury, Santander looked like a shell of himself. His approach was off, his swing inconsistent, and his presence at the plate uninspiring.
Rogers Centre was supposed to be a hitter’s paradise. Instead, it’s exposed all the flaws in Santander’s game: streaky contact, limited on-base skills, and now, the inability to stay on the field.
A Punch to the Gut for a Fanbase Running on Hope
Santander’s spot on Bleacher Report’s list wasn’t just about numbers. It was about context. The Jays needed a jolt after missing out on names like Shohei Ohtani and Cody Bellinger. Santander was Plan B—maybe even Plan C—but they paid like he was Plan A.
His poor performance has stung even more because Toronto is exceeding expectations elsewhere. Despite other misfires like Max Scherzer’s injury, the team is hanging in the AL Wild Card race. But with Santander offering nothing and still owed over $90 million through 2029, the front office’s margin for error is evaporating fast.
This isn’t a mid-level bust. This long-term anchor is attached to a roster already feeling the weight of aging stars, inconsistent depth, and a tightening payroll.
Can He Turn It Around?
The one faint silver lining? There’s still time—barely. GM Ross Atkins said this week that Santander could resume swinging soon and may return before the All-Star break. If that happens, and if the former Orioles slugger finds his stroke again, perhaps this contract won’t age like sour milk.
But make no mistake: the early returns are brutal. The bat they paid for hasn’t shown up. The player they needed hasn’t emerged. And the Blue Jays’ $92.5 million investment looks like a colossal mistake.
It’s only July, but unless Santander flips the script quickly, this deal will sit near the top of “what were they thinking?” lists for years to come.
Blue Jays’ $92.5M Gamble Lands Among MLB’s Cringiest Contracts