The Blue Jays have apologized to the Muslim community over Anthony Santander's social media posts. Mark Shapiro signed the statement.

Shapiro said the club met with leaders in Toronto's Muslim communities, “who shared the harm caused by Anthony Santander's social media posts.”

“The opportunity to listen and learn was important and reaffirms our beliefs and values as an organization,” the statement read. “We condemn all forms of hate.”

The apology was direct. “The Blue Jays are deeply sorry to the Muslim community and our fans for the pain and harm these Islamophobic posts have caused,” Shapiro said.

Is this the response critics wanted? It's closer.

Mark Shapiro's statement goes further than the Blue Jays' first response

The club's initial statement simply said individual comments “do not represent our organization's values and beliefs.”

It also addresses a key demand. The National Council of Canadian Muslims had called for a commitment to meet with Muslim communities.

Ross Atkins had already said there “really aren't words” to express his disappointment in Santander's posts.

What the statement doesn't mention is the roster. There's no word on Santander's future with the club.

The apology is meaningful, and meeting with community leaders was the right move. But the Jays released Anthony Bass in 2023, and fans will want to see the same standard applied.

An apology without action is like a repair estimate without the repair. It shows you understand the damage, but the house is still broken.

The money is still part of the equation. Toronto owes Santander $16.5 million for 2027, with $10 million deferred.

Shapiro's words closed one chapter of this story. The decision on Santander's place in the organization will write the next one.