The Toronto Blue Jays had the best record in the American League last season and made it to the World Series. However, they did it without much help from one of their big offseason additions, Anthony Santander.
The Blue Jays signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal coming off a 44-homer, All-Star season. However, he played in just 54 regular-season games for the Blue Jays and was removed from the American League Championship Roster with an injury. According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays are operating with little attachment to last year’s roster, which puts Santander at risk of being moved.
The Blue Jays are less concerned with what a player has done in the past and more about what they can do to help the team win next season. Santander could bounce back and become the player he was in 2024 with the Orioles. However, there is reason to doubt him. Outside of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, 2024 was the only season Santander had an OPS over .800.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 08: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Anthony Santander #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees in game…
Nicholson-Smith noted that the Blue Jays already showed they are willing to move on from prominent players if it helps their team win by removing Yariel Rodriguez. He mentioned Jose Berrios and Santander as players the Blue Jays me be open to moving on from, but he did note that while the Blue Jays are open to talking about Berrios, Santander’s status is “less clear.”
“While their stance on Santander is less clear, the overall picture emerging is one where the Blue Jays are prioritizing the quality of next year’s roster over past production,” wrote Nicholson-Smith. “The priority has to be 2026 wins, even if that means accepting that deals like Rodriguez’s haven’t worked out as well as they hoped.”
The Blue Jays already proved they do not need Santander. Additionally, they are seen by many as the favorites to land Kyle Tucker. Should Tucker sign with the Blue Jays, they have no reason to hold on to Santander. Tucker has reportedly already visited the Blue Jays’ spring training facility in Florida.
Leave a Reply