Looks like Ross Atkins has made a major mistake with Anthony Santander
Photo credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
On January 20, 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays shoot up the offseason by revealing the signing of Anthony Santander, their most significant move to date.
The expectation was that Santander would bring the much-needed power to the middle of the lineup. Well, it hasn't been the case for him so far this season.
Is outfielder Anthony Santander the biggest bust in Blue Jays history?
Nicholas Pateolog from Blue Jays Nation writes that nearly 50 games into the season, the reality has been very different. To be blunt, Santander hasn't lived up to expectations. Known for slow starts in the past, many hoped his struggles would end once May began.
Although his recent performance has improved, it still falls well short of what the Blue Jays likely anticipated from their newest acquisition.
"The numbers are jarring. As of this writing, Santander owns a .193 batting average - eighth-worst among all qualified hitters in Major League Baseball. His .607 OPS ranks 16th-worst in the league. But the issues run deeper than just surface-level stats." -Pateolog
So what's been the problem for Santander?
Lately, there's been some insight, though not much relief, into what might be behind Santander's slump. The Blue Jays have quietly benched him a few times, pointing to a sore shoulder he injured in Los Angeles and a ship injury that sidelined him this past week.
"Right now, it's hard to argue that Santander should be hitting third in the lineup. Whether it's injury-related, mechanical, or mental, something isn't right - and it's costing the Blue Jays valuable run production. Schneider did move him down in the lineup when he returned last week, but Santander did find himself back in the spot yesterday after posting a two-hit performance on Saturday." -Pateolog
It's still too soon to label Santander's signing a failure. He's proven he can bounce back from slow starts in the past. For Toronto, the solution is clear: provide him with the time and support to overcome his struggles, hoping that turnaround happens sooner rather than later.
The Blue Jays desperately need the power hitter they expected, but for now, he remains absent.
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