The Toronto Blue Jays had a busy day of roster moves ahead of their Tuesday night matchup with the Boston Red Sox, highlighted by the surprise activation of slugger Anthony Santander. While the move was expected to happen later in the week, circumstances forced manager John Schneider and the front office to make the call a day earlier than planned.
Unfortunately, the good news came alongside some setbacks, with first baseman Ty France heading to the injured list and right-hander Alek Manoah designated for assignment.
Santander Activated Ahead of Schedule
Nicknamed “Tony Taters” for his power bat, Santander was reinstated from the 60-day injured list just an hour before first pitch at Rogers Centre. Although he didn’t see action in Toronto’s 4–1 loss to Boston, his presence back on the roster is an encouraging sign for a Blue Jays lineup looking for some extra firepower heading into the postseason push.
Schneider revealed after the game that Santander’s activation wasn’t originally scheduled for Tuesday.
“Our thought was to activate Tony probably on Wednesday, just in talking to him,” Schneider said. “Since we had him here, it made sense to try to not play a man short, tonight, or for a couple days.
Santander has been sidelined since May 29 with a shoulder injury, spending recent weeks on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. Once the Bisons’ season ended Sunday, he was deemed ready for the final stage of his return.
The veteran outfielder signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto in January after eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. However, his first campaign in a Blue Jays uniform hasn’t gone according to plan. Before the injury, Santander managed just a .179 batting average with 33 hits, six home runs, and 18 RBIs over 50 games.
Despite the rough start, Schneider voiced confidence that Santander still has a chance to prove his worth.
“It’s a guy that we trust, it’s a guy that has, I think, some things to prove a little bit here,” Schneider said. “He didn’t get off to the start he wanted to with us this year and the contract that he signed, but we trust him.”
Ty France Placed on IL
The flip side of the roster shuffle came with Ty France being placed on the 10-day injured list due to left oblique inflammation. Schneider explained that France sustained the injury during pre-game batting practice.
“Ty actually hurt himself hitting early on the field with the oblique,” Schneider said.
France has been a steady contributor since coming over from the Minnesota Twins at the trade deadline alongside reliever Louis Varland. The Blue Jays sent outfielder Alan Roden and pitching prospect Kendry Rojas the other way in that deal.
So far in 2025, France is hitting .257 with seven home runs and 52 RBIs between his time with Minnesota and Toronto. His absence creates another hole in the Jays’ infield and lineup, but the hope is that the IL stint won’t keep him sidelined for long.
Manoah’s Toronto Tenure Likely Over
Perhaps the most dramatic move of the day was the decision to designate Alek Manoah for assignment. Once viewed as a franchise cornerstone, Manoah’s time with the Blue Jays appears to be ending after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024.
The 26-year-old hasn’t pitched in the majors since then, and with Toronto’s roster crunch intensifying, the club made the difficult choice to part ways. Manoah leaves with a career record of 29–20, a 3.34 ERA, and 412 strikeouts across four seasons.
His fall from prominence has been rapid. Just two years ago, Manoah was an All-Star and Cy Young candidate. Now, the Blue Jays must hope he can find a fresh start elsewhere while they continue to reshape their pitching staff.
Bo Bichette Update
Amid the roster shuffling, there was at least one positive note for fans keeping an eye on the team’s superstar shortstop. Schneider confirmed that Bo Bichette has been swinging in the batting cage on back-to-back days as he works his way back from a sprained left knee suffered on Sept. 6.
Bichette was enjoying one of his finest seasons before the injury, slashing .311 with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and an .840 OPS in 139 games. He continues to lead all of Major League Baseball in hits (181) and doubles (44). His potential return would be a massive boost for the Blue Jays as the postseason approaches.
Looking Ahead
The Blue Jays may have lost Tuesday night’s contest to the Red Sox, but the bigger story is the roster transformation. Getting Santander back should add a veteran bat for the stretch run, though losing France and officially cutting ties with Manoah underscores the challenges of keeping a team healthy and competitive through 162 games.
With Bichette inching closer to a return, the Jays hope the worst of their injury woes are behind them. If their stars can get healthy and find form in time, Toronto could enter October as a dangerous threat in the American League.