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Jackson Roberts is a Newsweek contributor based in Hoboken, NJ. His focus is MLB content. Jackson has been with Newsweek since July of 2025 and previously worked at The Sporting News and MLB Network. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. You can get in touch with Jackson by emailing j.roberts@newsweek.com
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It’s remarkable that the Toronto Blue Jays have put themselves in the driver’s seat to win a division title this season, but even more remarkable in the context of last winter.
Toronto’s biggest investment by far between the end of last season and the start of the new one was outfielder/designated hitter Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with a club option for 2030. That signing has yet to pay dividends of any kind.
Santander played 50 games for the Blue Jays before hitting the injured list with shoulder troubles in late May. In that span, he posted a gruesome .577 OPS and -1.0 bWAR, a metric that maintains Santander has been the least valuable player of anyone on Toronto’s roster this season.
ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 28: Anthony Santander #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays steps to the plate before batting against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2025…
ARLINGTON, TX – MAY 28: Anthony Santander #25 of the Toronto Blue Jays steps to the plate before batting against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
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Jenkins/Getty Images
For weeks now, Santander has been on his way back, but his initial rehab stint was pushed back when he experienced back tightness earlier this week, per Sportsnet.
However, Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi reported Thursday that Santander was expected to begin his rehab stint in that night’s game for Triple-A Buffalo.
Davidi also reported that Santander is expected to serve as the designated hitter for his first few games before progressing to playing the outfield.
“(The) Blue Jays will be looking at how quickly he can regain timing in deciding next steps,” Davidi added.
Deciding when to bring Santander back and how to use him will require critical thinking from the Toronto front office. If he’s anything close to the hitter who blasted 44 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles last season, he’s a huge asset to this lineup even on its best day.
However, the Blue Jays have been enjoying the luxury of getting George Springer a lion’s share of DH at-bats lately, and forcing an outfielder out while playing either Santander or Springer on defense every game isn’t ideal.
Toronto can enter wait-and-see mode while Santander gets his feet wet on rehab, but eventually, it’s going to have to define a role for him on the playoff roster, and there’s a case to be made it should be a very narrow one.
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