Addison Barger's return this week should fuel Blue Jays offense

As the Toronto Blue Jays' offense continues to be inconsistent, the need for a spark is dire. Thankfully, there is some promising news as Addison Barger is expected to return to the lineup on Friday when the Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Angels at home after being on the 10-day injured list from a left ankle sprain he suffered on Apr. 5 against the Chicago White Sox.

Barger has seen limited action in 2026, and when he has been in the lineup, he has struggled. The 26-year-old outfielder has only appeared in eight games this season, getting 19 plate appearances and only one hit.

This is a stark contrast to last season, when he established himself as a key offensive contributor. In 2025, Barger hit with a .243 average, 21 home runs, 74 RBI, and 112 hits in 135 games played.

Granted, Barger's performance this season is coming from that small sample size, but the Blue Jays need a little more from him. Thankfully, the rehabbing outfielder seems to be finding his stride after hitting a home run in his first game with the Dunedin Blue Jays before hitting another in just three rehab games.

Barger's return will force the Blue Jays front office to make a tough decision

The return of Barger does make things interesting for the Blue Jays front office and subsequently manager John Schneider, however. Barger last season was used as a utility player who could play both third base and in the outfield. Now with Kazuma Okamoto primarily playing third base, Barger will likely have to slide into the outfield full-time - which is where he played most of the spring.

That means the Blue Jays front office will have to move someone off the big-league roster to fit the Bellevue, Washington native into the lineup. The two likely options are Yohendrick Piñango and Davis Schneider, both of whom have minor league options.

Piñango has fared well recently in the leadoff spot, getting three hits on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Davis Schneider, on the other hand, is batting a measly .137 this season, but did have a two-run double against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Both options have served as fill-ins while the Blue Jays continue to battle injuries, but it will be interesting to see what decision the Blue Jays make.

Regardless of who gets sent down, there will also be the question of how ofter Barger will get in the lineup compared to the other two, given his current batting average. Although, we have seen Schneider (the manager) make some interesting decisions this season in the form of pinch-hitting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in a sub-optimal situation.

Whatever decision is made, the need for Barger to come back and give the Blue Jays a taste of what he is cooking up in his minor league rehab is so evident. The Blue Jays are batting under .250 as a team in their last ten games, with a rollercoaster of inconsistencies being the summary of the story. Barger, if he stays hot, could be the starting point to a hot streak the team desperately needs.

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