New Anthony Santander development has the Toronto Blue Jays involved in blockbuster trade

A new On SI write-up says one possible solution is blunt, try to trade Santander if Toronto lands Tucker. The idea comes via The Athletic's Mitch Bannon, with roster space driving the whole conversation.

Santander is the awkward piece because the contract is real money and the 2025 production was not. Toronto signed him to a five-year, $92.5 million deal last winter, expecting middle-order thump.

Instead, Santander played only 54 regular-season games and finished with a .175/.271/.294 line and a .565 OPS, plus six homers and 18 RBIs. Those numbers explain why «salary dump» gets whispered.

The last update the Blue Jays got on Santander was that he was recovering well from his injuries and would be ready for the start of the 2026 season.

As a fan, I hate selling low, but I also hate stubborn lineups. If the front office truly thinks Tucker is within reach, the playing-time puzzle has to be solved cleanly.

Kyle Tucker would instantly change the batting order and the defense, because he is still in his prime. In 136 games for the Chicago Cubs last season, he hit .266/.377/.464 with 22 homers, 73 RBIs, and 25 steals.

He is also legitimately available, since he is headed into free agency and has been one of the winter's headline names. MLB.com's rumor tracker continues to link Toronto to Tucker as the calendar flips into January.

The part that feels hard is the actual trade partner for Santander. Even if his back issues were the biggest culprit, another team has to believe the bat rebounds enough to justify real dollars, not just a flyer. 

Toronto can talk about flexibility all it wants, but October showed how thin depth gets when you are chasing a title. The next milestone is simple, either Tucker signs, or the Jays commit to a clearer outfield plan before camp opens.

Source: Sports Illustrated
Blue Jays Reportedly May Try to Trade Away Slugger to Make Room for Kyle Tucker

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