Anthony Santander has officially missed his entire first season in Toronto.

A back issue interrupted his rehab attempt earlier this month, closing the book on a lost 2026 that never included a single big-league game.

For the Blue Jays, that's a significant lost investment. Toronto signed him to a five-year, $92.5 million deal before 2025, a contract that could grow to $110 million over six years with its opt-out and team option.

At the time, it looked like a smart bet. He'd just hit 44 home runs with 102 RBIs for Baltimore in 2024, capping an eight-year run there with 155 homers and a 113 wRC+.

Toronto hasn't gotten a fraction of that. Santander has played just 54 games as a Blue Jay, hitting .175 with six home runs and 18 RBIs before his shoulder problems ended his 2025 season, then missing all of 2026 entirely.

Why the front office needs a real backup plan

Toronto already tried one alternative this year. Jesus Sanchez was supposed to provide some of the missing right-handed power, but after 99 games and a .260 average with eight homers, defensive struggles led to his release.

Adding to the uncertainty, George Springer is heading toward free agency. His six-year, $150 million deal expires after this season, and at 37, he's coming off a much quieter year than his outstanding 2025, when he hit .309 with 32 homers and a .959 OPS.

Hindsight makes it easy to second-guess the Santander signing, but Toronto genuinely needed power at the time. Still, it's worth noting the alternatives available then. Teoscar Hernandez re-signed with the Dodgers for three years and $66 million, less total money and a player already familiar with Toronto's ballpark.

Christian Walker signed with Houston for three years and $60 million after averaging 32 home runs and 94 RBIs with three straight Gold Gloves in Arizona. He wouldn't have replaced Santander directly with Guerrero at first, but could have formed a powerful first base and DH tandem with Springer taking more outfield reps.

None of that changes where Toronto stands now. The real mistake would be assuming Santander's eventual return automatically fixes everything.

If he spends another significant chunk of 2027 on the IL, Toronto needs a legitimate offensive option already in place. Fortunately, next year's free agent class offers several paths.

Seiya Suzuki stands out immediately, one of the more prominent outfield names in a market expected to be thin at the position. Ian Happ offers a different profile, a four-time Gold Glove left fielder rather than a pure power replacement.

Randy Arozarena, Taylor Ward, and Trent Grisham are also worth watching in the outfield mix. Brandon Lowe could address a different need entirely, a two-time All-Star who's hit 30-plus home runs in back-to-back seasons with a .250 average and 118 wRC+ over the last four years, even at 32.

A power-hitting infielder addition could free Toronto from waiting on Santander at DH, avoiding another season of handcuffing the manager's lineup options.

If Santander comes back healthy and productive, that's a real bonus. But with several big salaries coming off the books, Toronto has real flexibility to build a backup plan regardless of how his recovery goes.