\u2014 Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Matheson believes it\u2019s less and less likely the 31-year-old outfielder will return this year. With that, Santander\u2019s tenure with the Blue Jays thus far has definitely been a forgettable one.<\/p>\n But the more unlucky one has to be Blue Jays third baseman\/outfielder Addison Barger. When Barger originally injured his elbow from a spectacular throw<\/a> from the outfield, he was expected to be out less than a month\u2019s time. However, while rehabbing his elbow, he would discover he had a stress reaction<\/a> (small fracture) in his back as well. After being shut down for a couple of weeks, Barger has yet to resume any baseball activities at all.<\/p>\n According to Jays manager John Schneider, the 26-year-old could still return this season, but the best-case scenario would be in August, as per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Despite his struggles even when healthy this season, Barger had shown from his 2025 breakout campaign that he could provide ample offense with his bat, with 20+ home run and 70+ RBI potential per year. At this point, the Blue Jays would want all the help they could get to wake up their inept offense.<\/p>\n As for infielder Lenyn Sosa, who could still figure into the Jays\u2019 plans going forward, he had also suffered a setback after beginning a rehab assignment in late June, as per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet. Right now, Sosa has resumed hitting in the batting cages at the Blue Jays complex in Dunedin. But with Luis Urias essentially being his replacement<\/a>, Sosa could have a longer road back than expected ahead of him.<\/p>\n It’s not just the Blue Jays’ hitters that are taking a while to recover<\/p>\n In terms of pitching, veteran Max Scherzer has unfortunately suffered a \u201cpause\u201d as well as opposed to a setback according to Schneider. Scherzer required three injections in his right pitching thumb over the All-Star break and will start to throw again soon<\/a>, with his potential return date left in limbo for the time being. The 41-year-old right-hander has struggled this season even when healthy, posting an ugly 10.23 ERA and 1.73 WHIP with four losses in six starts this year for Toronto. As a result, the Jays will give him all the time that he needs and are likely in no rush to get him back.<\/p>\n With help not likely on the way soon, if the Blue Jays want to give it that one last push for a playoff spot, the boost they want will have to come from deals at the trade deadline. <\/p>\n
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