The Toronto Blue Jays signed former Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander to a massive five-year, $92.5 million contract on Jan. 20, 2025, amid a period when the franchise was going all in for a World Series title. Since that signing, Santander has managed to play in only 54 games in blue and white due to a major shoulder injury that has kept the right fielder on the sidelines for longer than any Blue Jays fan was hoping for.
The Venezuelan knocked 44 home runs in his 2024 breakout season but hasn’t sniffed that sort of success since in the slightest. Even when he was as healthy as a Jay last season, his numbers dropped across the board, including a .565 OPS, a .175 batting average and a negative one WAR.
On the bright side, his sample size came early in the season, when most players aren’t warm yet or haven’t gotten into the groove. It’s unknown if he would have gotten hot or picked up his season in 2025, as he was one of the league’s best switch hitters just a year ago. After colliding with the right field wall, he spent the following months on the injured list, with a short return in the playoffs, followed by a shocking announcement that he would receive surgery in February 2026.
Fast forward to September and Santander is beginning his rehab stints in AAA Buffalo, nearing a return to the Blue Jays in the coming weeks if all goes to plan.
Things haven’t gotten off to a great start; his first game for Buffalo saw him go 0-4 with a popout, a strikeout and a pair of groundouts on Sept. 9.
Fans quickly jumped on Instagram to slander Santander’s performance; however, it was only his first game back after almost a year of recovery. The switch-hitter played DH on Wednesday, but it was announced that he would be returning to his usual spot in right field in following rehab games.
Santander’s impact will vary significantly depending on whether he can return to form after such a disappointing start to his Blue Jays tenure. On one hand, he can make a return to the lineup and provide the slugging and ability to drive in runs the Jays have been hoping for moving forward. On the other hand, if he never fully recovers and only serves as an average bat and sub-par outfielder, this contract could come back to haunt the franchise for years to come.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. He is only 31 years old and is still technically in his prime. Santander has one of the highest ceilings on this Jays team, with the ability to change the course of a game with one swing of the bat. It was only two seasons ago when he was 11th in American League M.V.P. voting, propelling Baltimore’s offence to new heights after a period of dreadful baseball from that franchise.
The regular season is slowly coming to an end as the Blue Jays look to rally for that third and final wildcard spot. The team is hoping Santander’s return can rejuvenate a lost offence and give them a chance of returning to the World Series.