Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider will have a difficult roster decision to make ahead of opening day. As of early February, the coach’s starting lineup was fairly set, particularly in the infield. The outfield situation was a bit more up in the air, but Addison Barger, Daulton Varsho, and Anthony Santander were widely expected to be the three starters.
Nevertheless, Santander’s injury has complicated things for Schneider. The Blue Jays revealed on February 10th that the slugger will miss five or six months due to shoulder surgery. Santander previously signed a massive five-year, $92.5 million deal with Toronto in January 2025.
Following the disappointing news, the Blue Jays brass completed a trade to acquire Jesus Sanchez from the Houston Astros. Sanchez, a left-handed hitting outfielder, is expected to compete for the left field starting role in 2026. Before the move, MLB.com predicted that Nathan Lukes would begin the season as the main starter in the position. Sanchez’s arrival, however, may potentially change things.
Bleacher Report is now predicting that Sanchez will win the positional battle over Lukes. The two outfielders are both lefties and posted somewhat similar statistics in 2025. According to the outlet, a key component of the battle is the fact that Sanchez is out of minor league options, while Lukes is not. Trading for Sanchez could also signify that Toronto is not yet ready to heavily rely on Lukes.
Toronto Blue Jays Brought in Jesus Sanchez to hit Homers
GettyJesus Sanchez has proven to be a reliable slugger in the big leagues.
The Blue Jays specifically brought in Sanchez to hit the ball hard. Speaking with the media while at spring training, Schneider was asked about his new player. “We want these guys to hit the ball hard. That was the first message we gave Sanch,” Schneider said on February 14, reported by Sportsnet.
As the Canadian sports outlet pointed out, Sanchez can definitely make his manager happy. The slugger previously smashed a 496-foot home run into the upper deck at Coors Field while facing the Colorado Rockies in 2022. He also hit another homer over 500 feet while playing for the AAA Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp a year earlier.
During in major league career, Sanchez has posted a .420 slugging to go along with a .727 OPS. Although his career high in home runs was just 18 with the Miami Marlins in 2024, he would average more if he were given more playing time. Sanchez did not nail down a starting spot until that campaign. Lukes does have a slightly higher OPS in the big leagues, but his slugging and home run figures are topped by the newcomer.
Blue Jays may not be Done Making Roster Moves
Along with Sanchez and Lukes, the Blue Jays also have Davis Schneider available to play left field. The versatile player featured at three different positions for Toronto in 2025. While he mostly filled in at left field, he did make appearances at second and third base. The manager will most likely use Schneider against left-handed pitching moving forward.
Sanchez’s arrival is likely bad news for Lukes. The situation, however, could even get worse for the outfielder. GM Ross Atkins recently admitted that he may not be done making roster moves. There has been speculation that the exec could even soon trade Lukes to ease the positional logjam. Spring training will be crucial for the trio heading into the season.
Blue Jays Newcomer Expected to Land Starting Spot