The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t lose the World Series because they couldn’t hit home runs.
Oct 12, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Anthony Santander (25) hits a single against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning during game one of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
But if they want to go back — and finish the job this time — they may need a version of their lineup that doesn’t feel like it’s constantly holding its breath.
In 2025, the Blue Jays ranked tied for 11th in MLB with 191 home runs, a number identical to the Orioles and Twins — two teams that didn’t even make the playoffs.
Toronto proved it could win without being a pure power team, but the numbers still leave a quiet question hanging over 2026:
Where does the extra damage come from when the margins get tight again?
One MLB insider believes the answer isn’t a new signing.
It’s a healthy Anthony Santander.
And that’s where things get uncomfortable — because “healthy Santander” is starting to sound less like an assumption and more like the single biggest variable in the Blue Jays’ entire offensive plan.
The rebound that could change everything
Jon Morosi told MLB Network that he believes Santander is positioned for a bounce-back season — and that it could reshape the Blue Jays’ lineup in ways fans might not fully appreciate yet.
Toronto didn’t just sign Santander to fill a roster spot. They paid him like a centerpiece, handing him a five-year, $92.5 million contract with a “healthy AAV,” as Morosi put it. He was viewed as one of the biggest prizes of that offseason.
That’s not a “nice addition” contract.
That’s a bet.
And now, the Jays need that bet to pay off.
Because when Santander is right, he doesn’t just add power. He changes how the entire lineup functions — especially in the outfield and at DH.
The real domino effect: George Springer
Morosi’s point wasn’t just about Santander’s bat. It was about the ripple effect.
“If he plays over 100 games in the outfield this year it will be a huge victory,” Morosi said, explaining that it would allow George Springer to play more games as the DH — something that directly impacted Springer’s success last year.
That detail matters more than it sounds.
Springer led the Blue Jays with 32 home runs in 2025, and part of that was tied to workload management. Keeping him off his feet, limiting the wear-and-tear of everyday outfield defense, and still maximizing his at-bats gave Toronto a version of Springer that looked dangerous again.
But that strategy only works if someone else can handle the outfield workload.
That “someone” is Santander.
So while fans might view Santander as a power bat, the organization seems to view him as something else:
A stabilizer.
A lineup unlock.
A piece that makes everything else fit cleaner.
The outfield blueprint is clear — but it’s fragile
If Santander is healthy, the ideal alignment starts to fall into place:
- Santander in one corner
- Addison Barger in the other
- Daulton Varsho in center
That trio carries a mix of pop and athleticism, even if there’s some defensive sacrifice depending on which corner Santander plays. But Toronto isn’t chasing perfect defense — they’re chasing impact.
And the power upside is real.
Barger and Varsho were third and fourth on the team in home runs last season. Barger hit 21 homers in his first full MLB season. Varsho hit 20.
Here’s the part that feels almost unreal: Varsho hit 20 home runs in only 71 games.
Meanwhile, Santander played just 54 games and still hit six home runs — a quiet reminder that his season wasn’t about decline, it was about availability.
Because when Santander has been available, he’s been one of the more consistent power threats in the league:
- 33 HR (2022)
- 28 HR (2023)
- 44 HR (2024)
That’s not “nice power.”
That’s lineup-shifting power.
That’s the kind of production that turns a good offense into a terrifying one.
A 90-HR outfield… or a familiar nightmare
If everything breaks right, it’s not crazy to imagine Santander, Varsho, and Barger combining for close to 90 home runs in 2026.
Add in Springer maintaining his pop with more DH time, and suddenly Toronto’s power problem looks like it never existed.
But there’s an edge to this optimism — because it all depends on the one thing you can’t script:
Health.
Morosi said indications are Santander is expected to be healthy for the start of spring training, but he also made it clear the Blue Jays will be watching his games played and plate appearances carefully as 2026 ramps up.
Because the truth is simple:
Toronto doesn’t need Santander to be perfect.
They need him to be present.
And if he isn’t, the entire lineup structure starts bending in ways that expose Toronto’s biggest fear — that their World Series window is open… but still fragile enough to slam shut over something as simple as one player’s body not holding up. ⚡
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