The Toronto Blue Jays were hoping for a signature signing that would rejuvenate their offense this winter. Instead, they’ve wound up with a very expensive .174 hitter.
Anthony Santander came to the Blue Jays on a five-year, $92.5 million contract with a club option for 2030, and was immediately slotted in as the team’s number-three hitter. Coming off his first All-Star appearance, Santander looked like a possible difference-maker in Toronto.
Instead, the first month of Santander’s season has gone about as poorly as it possibly could have. In addition to the .174/.260/.294 slash line, the 30-year-old has been worth -0.6 bWAR and sports an OPS+ of 59.
The statistics look bad, but sometimes slumps happen. However, one top baseball insider is concerned enough to press the panic alarm only a month into the slugger’s Toronto tenure.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan listed Santander among “five players whose slow starts warrant panic” in a season review column.
“Spending the first month as a $92.5 million free agent below the Mendoza Line is tough. Doing so with a barrel rate that has cratered and only three home runs this year after hitting 44 is doubly so,” Passan wrote.
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“Santander is not elevating the ball nearly as well as he did in 2024 — a problem Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had last year before his second-half resurgence. If the Blue Jays have any hope of contending in the AL East, they’ll need Santander to do the same.”
The 13-16 Blue Jays desperately need Santander to get going. Without any power from Bo Bichette and just three home runs from Guerrero, Santander is supposed to be the most reliable home run hitter this Toronto team has.
Where is the 44-homer slugger the Blue Jays saw dominating the East as a member of the Baltimore Orioles last season? He had better show up soon if Toronto has any prayer of avoiding a second-straight postseason disappointment.
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