Breaking: Blue Jays' Anthony Santander Appears Finished for the Season
As the Toronto Blue Jays get set for a huge Game 4 of the ALCS in Seattle against the Mariners, they'll have to do it without slugger Anthony Santander, who's been pulled from the Toronto lineup. Additionally, the Jays have asked MLB for permission to remove him from their ALCS roster due to injury, which would effectively end his season, as anyone not on a CS roster cannot be added for the World Series.
The Blue Jays are planning to remove Anthony Santander from their ALCS roster due to back issues, per @MitchBannon
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2025
If the Blue Jays advance to the World Series, Santander would be ineligible to play in the Fall Classic pic.twitter.com/YwqffU8EHh
Santander is suffering from back problems. He also missed Game 2 of the ALCS with lower back soreness. He started Game 3 in the outfield, but was pulled in the fifth inning and replaced by Myles Straw. Santander finishes the postseason with a .200 average (3-for-15), though he did put up some nice at-bats against the Yankees in the ALDS, seeing a lot of pitches. He had two RBIs in his five games.
The regular season was a washout for Santander, as he missed four months due to a shoulder injury, and when he did play, was a huge disappointment. He hit just .175 with six home runs, after signing a massive five-year $92.5 million free agent contract with Toronto last offseason. He hit 44 homers the year before with the Baltimore Orioles.
Reports say that if the Jays are granted permission to remove Santander from the roster, they would add outfielder Joey Loperfido in his place.
With the move to drop Santander from the Game 4 lineup, Addison Barger shifts from 3B to RF in his place, while Ernie Clement moves to third base, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa goes in at second. As it happens, IKF is 5-for-13 with a homer and double vs Mariners starter Luis Castillo, per beat writer Shi Davidi.
Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
