Blue Jays reportedly request to shockingly pull slugger from ALCS roster mid-series

According to sources who've spoken to The Athletic, the Toronto Blue Jays have put in a request to Major League Baseball to remove Anthony Santander from the current American League Championship Series roster.

Writer Mitch Bannon was the first to release the news.

Santander was initially taken out of the lineup before Game 4 with back issues, before Bannon reported the news.

In speaking with the media, Blue Jays manager John Schneider was pressed on the potential shuffle, but was mum on the matter, simply replying, "We'll see."

Per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays are expected to know in a couple of hours what MLB's verdict is. Schneider also stated that Santander felt his back pain after the game and into the morning.

MLB reportedly mulling over Blue Jays roster decision that would end Anthony Santander's season

If MLB approves the roster decision, it would make Santander not only ineligible for the rest of the ALCS, but would also keep him off the World Series roster should the Blue Jays advance. Thus, this roster change would effectively end his 2025 season. Santander was also removed late from Game 2's lineup due to back issues.

UPDATE: The move has been approved prior to Game 4; Loperfido is in for Santander.

Should this be it for Toronto's biggest offseason acquisition, it would put a cap on what has been an injury-filled season for the 30-year-old. Santander only played 54 games in 2025 after shoulder issues kept him on the shelf for most of the season. He batted .175 with six home runs, 18 RBI, and 34 hits.

In his 2025 postseason campaign, Santander batted .200 with three hits and two RBI in 16 plate appearances (15 at-bats). Isiah Kiner-Falefa was slotted into the Game 4 lineup in Santander's place, playing at second base, with Ernie Clement moving to third base and Addison Barger taking over right field, Santander's position this postseason.

According to Bannon, outfielder Joey Loperfido, who was not on the ALDS or ALCS roster, would be a likely candidate to replace Santander.

Game 4 of the ALCS goes down Wednesday night, with first pitch at 8:33pm EST at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.