Ross Atkins revealed real plans for Anthony Santander heading into next season.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, with the playoffs underway and Toronto watching from home, the GM addressed Santander's status directly.

Santander is still in Dunedin, according to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon, and Toronto wants him to prepare for outfield play next year.

"Some notes from Ross Atkins talking with writers after presser: Santander still in Dunedin, Jays want him to prepare for OF play," Bannon wrote.

That's a notable detail, given how much of Santander's recent work has centered on getting back into the batter's box. Adding defensive preparation to his offseason plan signals Toronto still views him as a two-way contributor, not strictly a DH option.

Why Clement and Miles got their own updates too

Atkins also addressed Ernie Clement's second base situation. "Clement will have to earn the 2B job. But he always has."

That echoes comments Atkins made directly to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith earlier in the week, confirming the competition at second base is genuinely open heading into next season.

Spencer Miles also came up in the conversation. Atkins described him as capable of starting or relieving, calling it a "difficult decision" that the organization needs to make soon.

As for Santander himself, the contract hasn't worked out for Toronto so far. He signed his five-year, $92.5 million deal on Jan. 20, 2025.

He appeared in just 54 games that first season due to shoulder inflammation, posting a poor .565 OPS.

He did return in time for last year's postseason, playing through the ALCS against Seattle before getting shut down with back tightness.

Before Toronto, Santander spent his entire career with Baltimore from 2017 through 2024, posting 11.0 bWAR with a .776 OPS, 155 home runs, and 435 RBIs.

His final Orioles season included an All-Star selection, a Silver Slugger, and 44 home runs, the exact production Toronto hoped to get a piece of when it signed him.

Whether he can recapture even part of that form while also preparing defensively for outfield duty is the real question hanging over his 2027 season.