The Toronto Blue Jays have removed centerfielder Anthony Santander from the team’s postseason roster, the team announced Thursday. The move, which came before Toronto’s AL Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners, ended an injury-laden season for Santander after he joined the Blue Jays in free agency this offseason.
Santander was replaced by outfielder Joey Lupervido for the remainder of the ALCS. Under MLB rules, the substitution also means Santander would be ineligible to pitch in the World Series if the Blue Jays advance.
Earlier in the series, Santander was a late scratch for Game 2 due to back tightness. He then returned for Toronto’s 13-4 Game 3 defeat of the Mariners, but was taken out in the bottom of the fifth inning and replaced by bench player Myles Straw. Santander made one run in the short outing.
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The defenseman was one of Toronto’s biggest offseason signings, signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract in January. But after four years of playing more than 100 games with the Baltimore Orioles, Santander only appeared in 54 regular-season games in 2025 because of a shoulder injury that sidelined him over the summer.
After earning his first All-Star nod in 2024 after a season with 140 hits, 44 home runs and 102 RBIs, Santander’s best year of his career was followed by declining stats: He hit just six home runs this season, with 34 hits and 18 RBIs.
In the ALCS, Toronto is also without center fielder Bo Bichette, who has been sidelined since September with a knee injury. Bichette was originally looking to return to the field for the ALCS, but remained off the team’s roster heading into the series.
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The Mariners took an early 2-0 series lead after winning the first two games on the road, but the Blue Jays responded with a dominant victory in Seattle in Game 3.