Blue Jays decision regarding trading Anthony Santander has been made
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Victor William
Jan 28, 2026 (9:45)
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Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
We spent all winter dreaming of shipping him out, but the reality is here: Anthony Santander is staying, and our season depends on him waking up.
It's time to face the music. The dream of trading Santander to clear space for a superstar like Kyle Tucker is officially dead.
Tucker signed a massive deal with the Dodgers, and with no other major outfield bats coming through the door, the Blue Jays are stuck with the contract they signed last January.
And let's be honest, that contract is heavy.
Santander (Signed as Free Agent in 2025 by Toronto) is entering the second year of a five-year, $92.5 million deal that includes nearly $62 million in deferrals.
His debut season in Toronto was a nightmare: a .175 average, just 6 home runs, and a -0.9 WAR in 54 games before injuries derailed his year.
That performance earned the front office a well-deserved "F" grade from analysts.
But we can't cut him, and nobody is trading for him with that price tag attached to that production.
So, the only path forward is redemption.
We have to hope the 2024 version of Santander-the guy who smashed 44 homers and drove in 102 runs for the Orioles-is still in there somewhere.
He is 31 years old, not 40. The power didn't just vanish.
Panic time or prime time?
The Blue Jays are banking everything on a bounce-back.
With Daulton Varsho locked in center, the corner outfield spots are thin. It's Santander or a rotation of unproven guys like Nathan Lukes and Addison Barger.
If Santander can even give us 80% of his 2024 production-say, 25-30 homers and an OPS around .800-this lineup looks dangerous again.
If he repeats 2025? We are in big trouble.
Ross Atkins made this bed. Now, for better or worse, we all have to sleep in it.
Let's hope "Tony Taters" finds his swing, because there is no Plan B.
Also read on Toronto Baseball Insider :
Toronto Blue Jays could close on former NL MVP
Toronto Blue Jays could close on former NL MVP
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 28|315 ANSWERS Blue Jays decision regarding trading Anthony Santander has been made Can Anthony Santander bounce back to hit 30+ home runs in 2026? | ||
| Yes | 212 | 67.3 % |
| No | 103 | 32.7 % |
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