“There really aren’t words to express my level of disappointment with him making those comments,” said Ross Atkins, general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, addressing Anthony Santander’s recent social media posts.
Atkins spoke to reporters in Las Vegas on Tuesday at the opening day of Major League Baseball’s general manager meetings, delivering the sharpest condemnation yet from the franchise regarding the injured outfielder. Santander faced severe backlash after sharing Islamophobic videos on his Instagram account during the week of the U.S. midterm elections, according to Sportsnet reporting.
The posts included a thumbnail of Abdul El-Sayed, the senator-elect in Michigan, accompanied by the text “America voted for Sharia last night,” alongside another video declaring “Islam is not peaceful.” The 32-year-old Venezuelan player deleted the content two days later but has not issued a public apology or statement, CTV News reported.
“Anything exacerbating some level of anti-Islamic hate is just extremely concerning, extremely disappointing,” Atkins told reporters in Las Vegas, as detailed by the Toronto Sun. The general manager added that he spoke directly with the outfielder about his lack of awareness and informed him that he needed to address the situation publicly.
When asked by reporters whether Santander would speak out, Atkins answered clearly. “I told him that he needed to and that he should,” Atkins said.
The controversy compounds an already difficult tenure for Santander in Toronto. The franchise signed the outfielder to a five-year, $92.5-million US contract in January 2025 following a stellar 44-homer season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024.
Santander appeared in just 54 games during an injury-riddled 2025 season, hitting six home runs, and missed the entire 2026 campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery as the Blue Jays plummeted to a last-place finish.
| Contract Detail | Value / Terms |
|---|---|
| Total Value | $92.5 million US (5 years, signed Jan 2025) |
| Remaining Commitment | $44 million over next 3 years ($30 million deferred) |
| Future Options | 2030 club option worth $15 million ($5 million buyout, deferred); opt-out after 2027 |
Atkins said that the organization has worked extensively to maintain a safe and inclusive environment.
“We’re working exceptionally hard internally to ensure, and we have been, that it’s a safe environment, that baseball is for everyone,” Atkins said, as reported by Sportsnet. “It’s very important to us. It’s a part of our organizational values and his behaviour did not align with that.”
The franchise previously faced a similar social media controversy in 2023 involving reliever Anthony Bass, who shared a video promoting a boycott against Target over its 2D-LGBTQ+ merchandise. Bass was released shortly afterward, though roster considerations made that parting straightforward.
Asked how the team plans to handle Santander moving forward, Atkins offered no guarantees.
“We’ll continue to work with him and hope that he can learn,” Atkins said.
