The Toronto Blue Jays had a very aggressive offseason, and right before they start spring training, manager John Schneider announced that Anthony Santander will miss significant time.
Santander will undergo left labral surgery, Schneider announced, and will miss five to six months, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. Santander signed a five-year, $92 million deal last offseason, but played in just 54 games for the Blue Jays. He slashed .175/.271/.294 in his limited time on the field.
Santander missed time with a shoulder injury last season. He returned for the postseason, but after just five games, he was taken off the roster with the Blue Jays citing shoulder tightness. In 2024, he hit 44 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles, but so far, his contract is aging poorly.
Santander is 31 years old, and the Blue Jays have options in the outfield. Addison Barger can play in the outfield more oftenwith Santander out, but the Blue Jays also have Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider, Myles Straw and Joey Loperfido as options.
Barger was an option to share third base with Kazuma Okamoto, but Santander’s injury could lock him into an outfield spot. Varsho seems like a lock to be in center field. Lukes, Schneider and Straw figure to be competing for the final starting spot now.
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