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Toronto Blue Jays have been dealt a significant setback after Anthony Santander underwent left labral surgery on Feb. 11, an operation that is expected to sideline him for five to six months.
The timing could not be worse for a team that entered the 2026 MLB season aiming to reinforce its offensive core following the departure of Bo Bichette.
Santander was viewed as a key piece in offsetting that lost production. However, injuries have consistently disrupted his tenure in Toronto. Throughout 2025, he battled a lingering left shoulder issue that never fully subsided.
Though he managed to return for the postseason, a back injury cut short his ALCS appearance. Now, the latest surgery raises serious questions about how quickly he can return to full strength — and who can realistically fill his role in the interim.
Free agency vs. trade: A difficult decision
With spring training underway, speculation has intensified around how Toronto Blue Jays will address the void. According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, the solution may not be straightforward.
“The trade market is where you can afford to be much more patient,” Nicholson-Smith said during a Feb. 11 appearance on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. “In free agency, you’ve got to move now. This is the time because players are trying to find homes, and we’re seeing that with deals across the league… I don’t know that that hitter is out there in free agency, is my point.”
His assessment underscores a harsh reality for Toronto: immediate impact bats are scarce. While free agency offers urgency, it may lack the caliber of hitter required to meaningfully replicate Anthony Santander’s expected output.
Nicholson-Smith further added, “It might actually come down to a trade at some point during spring. That might mean going through the next six weeks with a fair amount of uncertainty as the Jays explore those different options, which they always do. This could be the year to do it because Leo Jimenez, you want to try to do better than that.”
Despite Toronto Blue Jays’ clear World Series ambitions, a blockbuster move similar to Seattle’s acquisition of Brendan Donovan does not appear imminent. For now, Toronto faces a period of calculated patience — and uncomfortable uncertainty.
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