The Toronto Blue Jays are falling short of expectations after a high-spending offseason.
The team brought in win-now talent like Andres Gimenez, Max Scherzer and Jeff Hoffman to complement a star-studded roster and drive a return to the playoffs. Instead, the team has a losing record and sits eight games back of the New York Yankees for the lead in the American League East division.
Of all the additions that the team made this past winter, perhaps the most disappointing has been switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander. After hitting 44 home runs in an All-Star and Silver Slugger Award campaign in 2024, the Blue Jays granted him a $92 million deal to come to Toronto.
Since joining the team, though, Santander is slashing just .189/.274/.320 with six homers so far.
As Santander’s struggles at the plate continue, it seems like he might benefit from a reset on the injured list. He has received some rest days with hip and shoulder injuries here and there this season but has largely remained in the lineup.
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Despite his issues at the plate, Santander has now declared that his ailments are supposedly helping his at-bats.
“Anthony Santander has said that his shoulder/hip issues are helping him limit big swings, which should help him make more contact… but that’s not his game,” wrote MLB.com Blue Jays reporter Keegan Matheson. “His game is a .240 average with 30+ homers. I don’t think we’re seeing him close to his natural self right now.”
As Santander continues to struggle through his injuries, a declaration that they are helping his game right now might be confusing for Blue Jays fans. The team might be better off moving him to an injured list stint so that he can return at full health and help turn things around in Toronto.
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