The Blue Jays want a bounceback marketing campaign from Anthony Santander in 2026

Sure, that is your bi-monthly reminder that Anthony Santander remains to be below contract with the Blue Jays for no less than the subsequent 4 years and $60.5 million.

In line with FanGraphs’ worth metric, Santander was price -$7.6 million, whereas incomes $13.5 million in 2025. Because the Blue Jays confirmed from June onwards, they had been a greater workforce with out Santander within the lineup. They tried to shoehorn him in for a handful of video games on the finish of the common season, and even just a few within the playoffs.

Most MLB gamers aren’t a web destructive on their workforce, and if they’re, they’re often demoted, launched or traded away, however the Blue Jays can’t do any of these issues with Santander. As a lot as they’d like to wave a magic wand and make Santander’s contract go away, he’s going to play for the Blue Jays in 2026.

Because the Blue Jays try to fill the potential void left by Bo Bichette if he indicators elsewhere, except for Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman and Cody Bellinger, there’s a extreme lack of affect bats on the free agent market. Except for a commerce for an affect bat like Ketel Marte from the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Blue Jays probably gained’t fill that void through commerce.

So, who’s the subsequent most suitable choice so as to add an affect bat? Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins’ favorite buzzword of the 2024 marketing campaign: inside enhancements. No participant exemplifies that greater than Santander, heading into the second 12 months of his five-year take care of the Blue Jays.

It’s tough to forecast the affect a 31-year-old participant coming off an injury-riddled 54-game marketing campaign will present, or how he’ll match into the combo for the Blue Jays in 2026. One would suppose the on a regular basis proper fielder’s job is Santander’s to lose, but when the Blue Jays signal an affect outfielder, that will push Santander to the opposite facet of the outfield.

Bringing Santander into the fold as an on a regular basis designated hitter is a dialog for a later date, as that spot belongs to George Springer in 2026. The 36-year-old received the majority of his video games at DH, beginning 80 of his 140 video games there this previous season. Springer excelled with much less time within the outfield, so messing with factor could possibly be a recipe for catastrophe for the Blue Jays.

Past this upcoming season, the designated hitter position is tailored for a man like Santander, however in the interim, if he’s totally wholesome, he’ll play the majority of his video games within the outfield, regardless of not being the most effective defender within the corners. That’s the place somebody like Daulton Varsho might want to choose up a number of the slack.

Because the 2025 Blue Jays confirmed, it’s good to have a 40-plus house run hitter, nevertheless it’s not a necessity, particularly if the lineup is predominantly comprised of contact hitters. The Blue Jays solely had 4 hitters who slugged 20-plus house runs in the course of the common season, but their .427 workforce slugging proportion ranked seventh general, and their 112 wRC+ was tied for fourth.

But when somebody like Santander may present that additional pop — modestly pencilling him in for 27-ish house runs in 2026 — that lengthens the Blue Jays’ lineup that a lot additional. Including one other bat by re-signing Bichette or signing Tucker or Bellinger provides much more dimension to arguably the most effective lineup within the American League this previous season.

Think about the depth and adaptability the Blue Jays may have if Santander even returned to his 2022-2023 type with the Orioles, the place he averaged 2.4 fWAR and 30.5 house runs over these two years. The Blue Jays could be floored to see that stage of manufacturing from Santander.

Until Bichette indicators elsewhere, the 2025 Blue Jays are primarily operating again their place participant core into 2026, with the potential of Santander to be something however useless weight on the roster in 2026. It’s presumptuous to imagine they’ll carry out at that prime a stage with the identical solid of characters once more, as there will likely be some type of regression within the lineup.

Which is why Santander can silence loads of critics by popping out and posting a comeback season, a la Springer from 2025. Admittedly, that’s simpler stated than carried out, however get accustomed to future referendums on Santander’s place on the Blue Jays roster till he proves in any other case.