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Blue Jays' $92M slugger to miss at least five months as Toronto dealing with injuries early

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh | Last updated Feb 10, 2026 6:43 PM ET

Just a few months ago, the Toronto Blue Jays were one play away from winning the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Entering the 2026 MLB season, the Blue Jays are viewed as World Series contenders once again. Unfortunately, the Blue Jays have already been dealt some rough injury news.

On Tuesday, manager John Schneider announced that Anthony Santander would miss 5-to-6 months as he will undergo left labral surgery.

On top of that, pitcher Bowden Francis will miss the entire season due to UCL reconstruction surgery and Shane Bieber’s return is delayed.

John Schneider provides some #BlueJays injury updates:

– Bowden Francis undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery (out for the year)
– Anthony Santander will undergo left labral surgery (will be out for 5-6 months)
– Shane Bieber will have his ramp-ump delayed, with forearm fatigue
— Mitch Bannon (@MitchBannon) February 10, 2026

The Blue Jays lost to the Dodgers in the World Series in seven games as Will Smith hit the go-ahead home run in the top of the 11th.

The Blue Jays’ loss of Santander is yet another tough injury blow for the former Baltimore Orioles slugger. Santander signed a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Toronto prior to the 2025 season.

Santander had just come off a 44-home run year in 2024 with Baltimore. However, he played in just 54 games in his first season in Toronto, missing time with a left shoulder injury. Santander then played only five postseason games, eventually being replaced on the ALCS roster due to a back injury.

In 2025, Santander hit just .175 with 6 home runs and 18 RBIs in the regular season, but the Blue Jays were hoping he could turn it around and return to his 2024 form.

The roster in Toronto looks different from what it did in the World Series. The Blue Jays signed pitcher Dylan Cease to a $210 million deal and added Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal, although Bo Bichette left in free agency and signed a deal with the New York Mets.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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