Creating the ideal Blue Jays lineup that now includes Jesús Sánchez

Heading into the 2026 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays envisioned finally having a healthy Anthony Santander to be a significant part of their offensive attack. However, his sudden injury surprise prior to training camp put a huge dent into those plans as the Blue Jays desperately scrambled to find his replacement.

Toronto did so in short order as they traded for the promising, power-hitting Jesús Sánchez from the Houston Astros in exchange for outfielder Joey Loperfido.

In doing so, the Blue Jays expect Sánchez to be a relevant part of their 2026 lineup, regardless of when Santander may make it back. So how will the Blue Jays ideal starting lineup look like with the promising 28-year-old outfielder in the mix?

Creating the ideal Blue Jays lineup that now includes Jesús Sánchez

The ideal 2026 Blue Jays lineup

Veteran George Springer remains at the top of the Blue Jays’ batting order with 2025 breakout player Addison Barger slotting in between Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to effectively alter their handedness.

In the cleanup spot will be Daulton Varsho to take the place of Santander and he will be counted on heavily to be a big-time offensive contributor this year. After all, Varsho did show some offensive spark last season when he was producing at a 40+ home run, 100+ RBI pace despite battling injury woes along the way. 

Alejandro Kirk will follow up in the No. 5 spot to help provide protection for Varsho, while newcomer Kazuma Okamoto will be bumped up a little in the batting order to take advantage of his stronger plate discipline and contact abilities.

In the seventh spot is where the newly acquired Sánchez will slot in to ease the pressure on him in his new environment as he aims to unlock his full power potential. For his position, the 28-year-old outfielder will play where Santander would have played in left field.

2025 postseason hitting star Ernie Clement will bat eighth while the defensively-sound Andrés Giménez will hit in the nine hole to round out the lineup. Having Giménez at the bottom of the lineup could be vital for the Blue Jays’ success in 2026, as it gives Toronto some solid speed on the basepaths to set up the big guns at the top of the order.

Overall, it provides the right balance of lefties and righties for the Blue Jays batting order while spreading out a good mix of power, speed and contact hitting up and down the lineup.

Of course, this projected lineup for the Blue Jays is assuming that Sánchez is given a full-time starting gig with the ballclub. However, with his .253 average, .774 OPS versus right-handed pitching, as opposed to his more worrisome .181 average, .520 OPS against left-handed pitching for his MLB career to date, there is a high probability that the 28-year-old outfielder will serve more in a platoon role instead.

As a result, on days in which the Blue Jays are up against left-handed pitching, expect more Davis Schneider, Myles Straw, or perhaps even Okamoto doing an outfield rep or two to take the place of Sánchez in left field. With the power potential of the Blue Jays newly acquired roster piece from the Astros, their offensive lineup certainly now looks a lot more fearsome that it did when they first learned that Santander will be gone for a fair chunk of the 2026 season.