The Blue Jays have reached the point where Jesús Sánchez’s glove is forcing a bigger conversation than his bat.
Sánchez has been a problem in left field, and the numbers back it up. Among Toronto outfielders with at least 100 innings played, his .975 fielding percentage is the lowest on the team. Narrow it to left field, and it drops to .955, which ranks ninth-worst in the league.
That’s why Anthony Santander’s return is starting to matter in a different way. Toronto has begun his rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo, and the old left fielder is suddenly looking like a defensive upgrade the club can use.
“I genuinely believe a returning Anthony Santander would be a notable defensive upgrade over Jesús Sánchez...”
Santander has not played a game in 2026 after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder, an issue that dates back to the 2025 season. The Blue Jays signed him for power, but the defense is now part of the appeal.
He owns a career .989 fielding percentage in the outfield, including .981 in left field. His best season there came in 2019, when he was perfect at 1.000.
In right field, he has been even steadier, posting a .990 fielding percentage.
Myles Straw is the other option in left. He has appeared more often than Sánchez, with 65 games to Sánchez’s 44, but Straw has made only 18 starts compared with Sánchez’s 39. Even so, Straw has the stronger fielding percentage.
That matters because Toronto will need to make a move if Santander is activated in the majors. Someone has to be sent down or cut, and that decision would likely leave Sánchez or Straw as the practical choices in left field. Straw also brings value on the bases, which only strengthens his case.
The Blue Jays also have Nathan Lukes and Brett Bateman giving them quality production in the outfield on both sides of the ball. Since Bateman debuted on Aug. 7, he and Lukes have been two of the team’s top five offensive contributors.
Bateman leads the pair with a .333 average, while Lukes is right behind him and tied with Alejandro Kirk at .308. Kirk leads that group with a 138 wRC+, followed by Bateman at 131 and Lukes at 126.
Their fWAR totals line up too: Kirk at 1.3, Bateman at 1.2, and Lukes at 0.8.
Because of that, Lukes and Bateman look set to keep getting run in the lineup no matter what happens with Santander’s activation.
If Sánchez is the odd man out, Straw would likely see left field more often. But Lukes has been handling right field with 73 starts, which makes a Straw-Santander pairing in left the cleaner defensive solution. That setup would also help Santander ease back into full-time work.
Toronto has 16 games left to chase down the final Wild Card spot in the American League. In that kind of race, every run saved matters. If Santander can help prevent a few balls from turning into damage, the Blue Jays may have more room to work with than it seems.
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Blue Jays Deadline Looks Smarter Than Fans Think And More Frustrating Too
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At the same time, there is still a familiar edge of frustration for fans who wanted a bigger swing. The clubs decision-making was built around keeping the roster competitive while also trying to strengthen what comes next, but the debate has not gone away because the deadline also left room for what might have been, including a possible route to Jo Adell if the Blue Jays had pushed harder in the right spot. [Read more 🡒]