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Ross Atkins Discusses Deadline Needs, Santander

By Nick Deeds | June 30, 2025 at 10:51pm CDT

The Blue Jays have finally put the lengthy Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extension saga behind them and are in the midst of a resurgent season with a 45-38 record that puts them in third place in a competitive AL East, just two games back of the Yankees for the division lead. In the Wild Card race, they’re in the second of three spots with a 2.5 game cushion over the Mariners. Despite all of that success in the standings, there’s plenty of cracks in their performance. That’s best represented by their (slightly) negative run differential of -3. That would suggest they should be around .500 rather than seven games over at this point, so there’s clearly work to be done on the roster.

Club GM Ross Atkins acknowledged as much to reporters (including Shi Davidi of Sportsnet) earlier today, when he said that the Blue Jays “can obviously be better” before adding that the front office will “focus on that” ahead of the trade deadline. As noted by Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Atkins also added that the club has the financial support of ownership headed into the deadline and will have the ability to “flex that muscle” this summer. That suggests at least some willingness to take on salary in trade, which is notable for a club that’s already well into luxury tax territory this year. It was a somewhat roundabout way of confirming that his team figures to buy this trade season, but that didn’t stop Atkins from mentioning a pair of needs: pitching help and a right-handed bat.

That those would be needs on the team’s wish list is hardly surprising. The Blue Jays have a bottom-five rotation in the majors by both ERA and FIP this year, and that seems unlikely to change any time soon with Bowden Francis on the injured list and Max Scherzer still working through his nagging thumb issue. As noted by Matheson following Scherzer’s 71-pitch start earlier this evening, manager John Schneider told reporters after today’s game that Scherzer is battling through some “fatigue” in his thumb. That seems to be a day-to-day issue that could be managed without a trip to the shelf, but even if he can avoid the injured list Scherzer may be limited by his ailing thumb going forward.

That should make adding starting pitching a priority for the Jays. Potential front-of-the-rotation arms who could be available this summer include Sandy Alcantara and Zac Gallen, but both players are going through down seasons and aren’t exactly surefire bets to put up elite numbers. More stable veterans like Merrill Kelly and Mitch Keller could be attractive alternatives for a team like the Jays that’s in need of steady innings, but Atkins has suggested the club is more focused on adding depth to its pitching staff. Perhaps that means wading only into the shallow end of the starting market and focusing on relatively low-cost veteran rentals like Andrew Heaney and Michael Lorenzen.

The club’s search for a right-handed bat, then, could take priority. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez and DH Marcell Ozuna are perhaps the top righty hitters who could be available this summer, though neither Arizona nor Atlanta is guaranteed to sell. Even if they do, there’s some questions to be asked regarding either player’s fit in Toronto. George Springer is best served acting as a DH for the Jays, and Addison Barger has enjoyed something of a breakout season while splitting time between right field and third base for the club. If the Blue Jays are looking for a lower cost addition with more versatility, perhaps someone like Nationals infielder Amed Rosario or Red Sox infielder Romy Gonzalez could be of interest.

One other way to help the club hit against lefties would be a healthy and effective return from switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander. Santander is a career 112 wRC+ hitter against lefties who posted an even stronger 121 figure against them last year, but he’s been on the injured list for a month now due to inflammation in his left shoulder. Atkins revealed today (as relayed by Davidi) that Santander actually suffered a subluxation (partial separation) in his left shoulder after crashing into the outfield wall in Anaheim in early May. Atkins notes that Santander initially tried to play through the injury, but he hit just .122/.265/.195 between the end of the club’s series against the Angels and his placement on the IL three weeks later. MLB.com adds that Atkins is “optimistic” that Santander could resume hitting soon and adds that he may be able to return to the Jays in late July.

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Toronto Blue Jays Anthony Santander Max Scherzer Ross Atkins

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View Comments (23)
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23 Comments

  1. jimmertee

    2 weeks ago

    Typical Atkins. Can’t even tell the truth about the Santander injury until he is basically forced to tell everyone.

    Give Shapiro and Atkins the keys to the wallet to add players is not a good idea.

    Alphonse and Gaston.

    4
    Reply
    • jdgoat

      2 weeks ago

      Why was he forced to tell everyone? Hell why does it matter? Never change jimmer

      7
      Reply
    • Tigers3232

      2 weeks ago

      @jimmer How does a team benefit giving any information beyond what’s required by MLB?

      I can see if a player needs TJS or tears an ACL, really no more harm by clearly divulging that information. But any short term injury its just giving competitors potential valuable information.

      7
      Reply
      • its_happening

        2 weeks ago

        Just tired of the way this regime has handled disclosure of injury constantly over a 10 year period.

        Reply
  2. CTS4

    2 weeks ago

    10 years of the Cleveland Clowns…I shake my head …..

    3
    Reply
    • smuzqwpdmx

      2 weeks ago

      4 years in the playoffs and on pace for a 5th in those 10 years… compared to 1 playoff appearance in the previous 22 seasons. And yet somehow the only thing fans can remember is the last couple months of 2015, when an outgoing GM built yet another sub-.500 team and then sold the entire future at the deadline because he knew he wouldn’t be back to worry about it.

      9
      Reply
      • Whyme

        2 weeks ago

        It’s much easier to get in the playoffs now. Also zero wins.

        3
        Reply
    • JRamHOF

      2 weeks ago

      Only 9 weeks until football season begins

      Reply
    • Ducey

      2 weeks ago

      All that shaking might be hurting your brain. I am not a big fan of Atkins, but the team is winning. And it is relying on some under rated pickups like Clement, Straw, Clase, Lukes, Little, Heineman, Rodriguez, Lauer. They lead MLB in K rate offensively. Their pick for hitting coach looks like he has turned them around.

      They signed Vlad, and draft pick Barger looks like a star in the making. And Kirk is a star

      And they are developing some pitching in the minors.

      They still have trouble identifying offensive prospects because of their obvious reliance on BB/K rate above all. But the team is doing okay, so shut up and enjoy it.

      4
      Reply
      • NoSaint

        2 weeks ago

        @Ducey

        Under rated or over performing? A lot of those guys were waiver claims, 4A players, or minor signings. Let’s not forget the wiffs he had too. Barnes and Lovelady over Yarbrough immediately comes to mind. Casey Lawrence and Turnbull for a couple of innings. Roden up and sent down twice this season are all signs of spaghetti roster construction. Throw it against the wall and see what sticks isn’t a plan for success.

        When the players you list, and others, return to expectations this team will be on what it is. A fringy playoff team.

        2
        Reply
      • its_happening

        2 weeks ago

        The way the AL has played thus far, and the AL East, Blue Jays are fortunate to be in the position they are given the lack of SP depth, bullpen depth and a bat short. If they jump ahead of the trade deadline they can take the division. They need it when you factor zero total playoff wins since 2016.

        1
        Reply
  3. Ted

    2 weeks ago

    I’d sure like to still have Teoscar Hernandez in this lineup. I know he’s been a free agent since the trade but still. He’s everything they need.

    Reply
    • its_happening

      2 weeks ago

      2022-23 off-season Jays: we need a LH bat

      Today’s Jays: we need a RH bat.

      1
      Reply
  4. ellisburks

    2 weeks ago

    Nobody in the Jays lineup would be an impedance to Suarez coming to Toronto. Barger and his 9HR and 112OPS+ will move somewhere else for Suarez’s 26HR and 143OPS+.

    Reply
    • NoSaint

      2 weeks ago

      @ellisburks

      Suarez has a glove better suited for DH.

      Reply
    • its_happening

      2 weeks ago

      Barger can play RF. Platoon Lukes/Straw in CF, Springer LF. Who knows when Varsho returns as he has been out longer than expected.

      Reply
      • NoSaint

        2 weeks ago

        @its_happening

        In a short sample in RF Barger is underwater in both DRS and OAA. Even with the eye test he doesn’t look good and I’m not an eye test guy.

        1
        Reply
  5. WestVillageTiger

    2 weeks ago

    What?!? No Bregman talk here yet?!?

    Reply
    • NoSaint

      2 weeks ago

      @WestVillageTiger

      They are in on him !! :o)

      1
      Reply
  6. its_happening

    2 weeks ago

    Jays need Yimi and either Varsho or Santander back to get Clase back to AAA. The bullpen needs an arm. The rotation could use an arm. A bat would be nice. Arms might be more of a priority at this point. Might.

    1
    Reply
  7. bestone

    2 weeks ago

    I think they are kinda lucky that the ‘O’s have lost their way, and the Red Sox seem to be missing player chemistry. The Yankees are normalizing. The Rays always seem to find an extra gear somehow.
    Let’s hope the Jays keep on the same path…

    1
    Reply
  8. NYCityRiddler

    2 weeks ago

    They just blew $500M on the Blob, Bregman best look elsewhere. Ahahahahahahaha!

    Reply
  9. 123redsox

    2 weeks ago

    Alcantara and Gallen are much much closer to DFA status than “top of the rotation”

    Reply

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