Blue Jays' Yimi Garcia to have season-ending surgery, Anthony Santander progressing

The Toronto Blue Jays have confirmation that they'll be without one of their high-leverage relievers for the rest of the season.

Relief pitcher Yimi García will have surgery to clean up scar tissue in his elbow and will be out for the year, manager John Schneider announced Friday.

"It sucks. Sucks for him, sucks for us, but it just kind of got to that point," said Schneider. "He'll be ready for spring training, which is good.

"So we'll see how the recovery goes, but hopefully it's as normal as an off-season as he can have. But the plan is to be ready for spring."

Garcia is expected to be ready for spring training 2026.

The 35-year-old recorded at 3.86 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 25 strikeouts and 12 walks over 21 innings in 2025.

After being dealt from the Blue Jays to the Seattle Mariners at the 2024 trade deadline for outfielder Jonatan Clase and catcher Jacob Sharp, Garcia returned to Toronto on a two-year, $15-million deal in the off-season.

The right-hander last pitched July 2, hitting the IL with right elbow ulnar nerve symptoms shortly after returning from a right shoulder impingement.

Garcia visited Dr. Keith Meister — an orthopedic and sports medicine surgeon with expertise on Tommy John surgery — for another opinion on his elbow.

Meanwhile, Anthony Santander is partaking in full baseball activities this weekend: hitting on the field, running and taking part in fielding drills.

Schneider said that Santander would follow that routine all weekend as the Blue Jays hosted the Milwaukee Brewers in a showdown between the best teams in Major League Baseball. Santander will then travel with the team for their series in Cincinnati against the Reds.

He will have a conditioning stint in the minor leagues before returning to the bigs.

"Did stuff in the cage already, outfield work, he's running the bases too, and kind of increasing his volume, so that's good," said Schneider.

"If all goes well, I think we target Tampa or Kansas city, he'll be back with us," the skipper continued.

The switch-hitting outfielder has been out since May 29 due to a left shoulder subluxation he sustained crashing into a wall in game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Santander struggled during the first two months of the season, hitting for a .179 average and .577 OPS with six home runs.

The 30-year old signed a five-year, $92.5-million contact with the Blue Jays in the off-season that includes a third-year opt out, sixth-year team option and deferred money.

Santander hit a career-best 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and could offer both power and versatility as a switch-hitter to the Blue Jays lineup.

In his absence, George Springer has been Toronto's go-to DH. The 35-year-old right-fielder has had an excellent season with a .303 batting average, 24 home runs, 67 RBIs, a .391 OBP and .541 slugging percentage. Springer's resurgence has been partly attributed to him getting more rest by not playing in the outfield.

"I think they kind of split it, I guess," said Schneider on balancing Santander's return with Springer's production. "I think George is fine playing the outfield. I think that whenever Tony does get playing in triple-A, he'll play in the outfield too, so that's an option.

"I think just the fact that he's feeling better is good, and then I want him — when he does come back — to be clicking and not tentative or anything, and be able to produce."

Elsewhere, injured reliever Nick Sandlin, who has been sidelined since early July with elbow inflammation, received another injection into the affected joint on Monday. The team hopes that he will get back to throwing over the weekend.

--With files from the Canadian Press