Toronto's Blue Jays estimated to face $92.5 million anxiety following dismal opening month performance

🔍 Peering into the Slump of Anthony Santander with the Toronto Blue Jays 🤐

Holy moly, it's been a rocky start for the Toronto Blue Jays this 2025 MLB season, with the team sitting at a disheartening 13-16, far from the expectations of many fans. But the struggles don't just lie with the team as a whole, with one key player, Anthony Santander, facing his fair share of heat.

Remember that sweet deal the Blue Jays signed him to, worth a juicy $92.5 million for five years? Well, it's looking a bit iffy with Santander's lackluster stats to start the season. Sitting at just a pitiful .174 batting average and three measly home runs, ESPN's Jeff Passan had no choice but to include the former Baltimore Orioles star in his list of players who are turning on fans' panic buttons.

"Ah, the taste of fame and fortune is very bitter when you're swinging below the Mendoza Line as a $92.5 million free agent," Passan mused. "And what's worse? His barrel rate's tanked, and he's only hit three dingers this season after clobbering 44 in 2024. Santander ain't elevating the ball near as well as he used to, and that's a problem, especially with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. having similar issues last year before his second-half comeback."

Time to brush off the dirt and dive into their matchups with the Boston Red Sox. But, before that, it's worth taking a gander at why Santander's slow start might just be par for the course.

Remember way back, just a couple of weeks ago, when Santander had a grand total of 19 hits, and boy, did he whiff a lot? Yep, you guessed it - he struck out 30 times. No need to panic too much though, as it seems like Santander is known for these abysmal starts.

Keegan Matheson from MLB.com had this to say at the start of April: "Alright, he sports a .656 batting average. The Blue Jays knew this was coming, and Santander isn't likely to transform into a blazing hot starter at 30-years-old. If he were a youngster breaking into the majors, this slow burn would be a cause for concern. But, fans have been talking about Santander's slow starts in Baltimore for years. This is who he is. By the time May swings around, you'll probably have forgotten all about April."

So, will Santander pick up the pace in May? Guess we'll just have to wait and see. If not, well, that $92.5 million deal might turn into a real sour grapes situation.

📝 Notes- Anthony Santander has been mostly used as DH and in the outfield for the Blue Jays.- Santander's current batting statistics (.174, 3 HR, 9 RBI) are a significant drop-off from his impressive numbers in previous seasons.- With the team struggling and Santander underperforming, the Blue Jays are considering adjustments, like using him more in the outfield to boost his offense.

The disappointing start of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 MLB season, combined with the poor performance of Anthony Santander, has fans questioning the $92.5 million deal the team signed him to.
With a batting average of just .174 and only three home runs, Santander's struggles have pushed him onto ESPN's list of players causing fan panic.
Despite his slow start, experts like Keegan Matheson from MLB.com believe that Santander's history of abysmal starts suggests that he may pick up the pace in May.
If Santander continues to underperform, the $92.5 million deal the Blue Jays signed him to could turn into a major disappointment.
With the Toronto Blue Jays thinking about making adjustments, such as using Santander more in the outfield to boost his offense, the future of the former Baltimore Orioles star with the Blue Jays remains uncertain.