New development in Toronto Blue Jays potential trade involving Anthony Santander

On Friday, Sportsnet ran a JD Bunkis Podcast segment with insider Mitch Bannon asking the blunt question, would Santander have any real market. The short answer on air was yes, but only with strings attached.

Those strings start with the deal itself. Spotrac lists Santander on a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto, and Reuters reported the agreement as a little over $90 million when it was reached.

The next string is what happened on the field. Santander hit .175 with six homers in 54 games in 2025, and both StatMuse and Reuters line up on the ugly headline numbers.

This is not the first time that Santander has been linked to trade rumors this off-season as the Blue Jays seem to be exploring all possibilities in hopes of improving their roster for 2026.

Bannon's point about Toronto having to eat money makes sense in that context, because the contract is the obstacle, not the roster spot. You don't move $18.5 million per year easily after a season like that.

If a trade ever got real, the return would probably match the reality, salary relief first, prospect value second. That's not a shot at Santander, it's just how contenders price risk.

There is still a baseball case for someone taking the gamble. Santander was an All-Star in 2024 and MLB.com credits him with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs that year, the kind of power that can change a playoff series.

He also fits modern roster math, because a switch-hitting corner outfielder who can DH plays on almost any team. The problem is that teams can buy that profile cheaper, unless Toronto pays down the deal.

For the Jays, this conversation is really about direction and timing. If Santander is healthy, it is simple, show up in 2026 and make this whole trade talk feel like old noise.

Source: Sportsnet
Would Santander have any trade value if Blue Jays made him available?