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Blue Jays Announce Anthony Santander, Shane Bieber News Ahead of MLB Season
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- Blue Jays Announce Anthony Santander, Shane Bieber News Ahead of MLB Season
The Toronto Blue Jays are heading into the 2026 MLB season looking to continue operating as one of the best teams in baseball. The club came just one win short of capturing the World Series title in 2025, and the front office responded with an aggressive winter in free agency to build a roster capable of sustaining that level of success.
Several players are also hoping to rebound individually, which could make Toronto even more dangerous if they return to form.
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Two of the most important names in that group are right‑hander Shane Bieber , who opted into his $16 million player option earlier this offseason, and switch‑hitting slugger Anthony Santander , who was Toronto's major acquisition last winter and has been an All‑Star in the past.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider (14) © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
However, both players suffered setbacks. On Tuesday, as pitchers and catchers reported for spring training, manager John Schneider met with reporters and delivered an unfortunate update on each player.
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Schneider announced that Bieber is dealing with forearm fatigue and will have a slower ramp‑up as the team works through the issue. Moments later, he revealed that Santander is scheduled to undergo left labral surgery and is expected to miss five to six months.
Both updates were first reported by Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. The news represents a significant early blow for Toronto.
Santander's injury is the more concerning development. His five‑year, $92.5 million contract signed two offseasons ago is trending in the wrong direction, and this will be the second straight year he misses substantial time.
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Even when healthy in 2025, the 31‑year‑old struggled. Santander owned a .175 batting average, .271 on-base percentage, 565 OPS, six home runs and 18 RBIs across 54 games.
Bieber's situation is less surprising given his recent injury history, including missing most of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Still, the setback is disappointing.
He was expected to stabilize the back end of Toronto's rotation after posting a 3.57 ERA in seven starts following his trade from the Cleveland Guardians .
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For a team with championship expectations, navigating these early challenges will be crucial as the Blue Jays work to maintain their place among the league's elite.
Related: Andres Gimenez Makes Career Decision Ahead of 2nd Season With Blue Jays
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 10, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
