TORONTO -- The Blue Jays activated slugger Anthony Santander off the 60-day injured list Tuesday, and former All-Star right-hander and 2022 American League Cy Young finalist Alek Manoah was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Toronto put first baseman Ty France on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Monday, because of left oblique inflammation. All of the moves were made prior to the club's 4-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre.
Santander signed a $92.5 million, five-year contract with Toronto in the offseason, but he is batting .179 with six homers in 50 games. He has been out since May 29 because of a left shoulder injury, and he rejoins the playoff-bound Blue Jays for the final week of the regular season as they try to wrap up the AL East title. Toronto had the best record in the AL at 90-66 entering Tuesday's action.
Santander set career highs with 44 homers, 102 RBIs and 91 runs scored in 155 games for the Baltimore Orioles last year and made the AL All-Star team for the first time. He was not in the starting lineup against the Red Sox, and he did not appear as a pinch hitter, either.
Manoah had been pitching at Triple-A Buffalo while rehabbing a 2024 surgery on his elbow. He went 1-1 with a 2.97 ERA in seven starts for the Bisons. Six of the 27 hits he allowed were home runs.
After going 9-2 as a rookie in 2021, Manoah went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 2022, finishing third in AL Cy Young voting.
Toronto's opening day starter in 2023, Manoah was demoted to the rookie-level Florida Complex League that June after going 1-7 with a 6.36 ERA. Manoah went 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in seven starts after rejoining the big league roster in July then didn't pitch again at any level after being optioned to Triple-A in August.
Last year, Manoah went 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA over five starts spanning 24â…“ innings before season-ending surgery.
