The Toronto Blue Jays, defending American League champions, received troubling injury news ahead of 2026 spring training. Outfielder Anthony Santander will miss five to six months after shoulder surgery, while pitchers Shane Bieber and Bowden Francis face delayed or extended absences.
As pitchers and catchers prepared to report in Dunedin, Florida, the Blue Jays announced multiple injuries on February 10, 2026. Manager John Schneider revealed that Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract before the 2025 season, will undergo left labral surgery on February 11 with Dr. Keith Meister. The procedure addresses a nagging shoulder issue that included a subluxation and inflammation throughout 2025, limiting him to 54 games where he hit .175/.271/.294.
"He was resting and rehabbing in November and December, then he kind of had a setback when he started ramping up with his hitting earlier in January," Schneider said. "This is the best possible way to get him back to 100 percent."
Santander returned for the postseason but was removed during the ALCS due to a back injury. General manager Ross Atkins emphasized the team's depth, noting internal options like Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider and prospects such as RJ Schreck and Joey Loperfido. The loss compounds the departure of Bo Bichette to free agency with the Mets.
Pitching concerns mounted with Shane Bieber's ramp-up delayed by right forearm inflammation from the end of the 2025 World Series run. Acquired at the 2025 trade deadline while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, Bieber opted into his $16 million player option for 2026. "We're being cautious... No procedures or anything in the offseason," Schneider said. Atkins added, "We want it to make the most sense for him and for us to win as many games as possible."
Depth starter Bowden Francis will undergo UCL reconstruction surgery and miss the entire 2026 season. The Blue Jays, who won the AL East via tiebreaker in 2025 with a 94-68 record, plan to rely on Eric Lauer, Ricky Tiedemann and Gage Stanifer to bolster the rotation amid these setbacks.
