The air in September always feels different, and in the AL East, it especially feels like baseball’s version of a pressure cooker. As of September 3rd, Toronto sits at 80–59, while Boston and New York are breathing down their neck with 78–62 and 77–61. That means just 2.5 games separate the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Red Sox.

And here comes the Yankees, who own a +140 run differential compared to Toronto’s +58, and are riding with high expectations, winning eight of their last nine games, and can topple them anytime in their upcoming series. But now, the return update of Anthony Santander, the Jays $92.5M offseason acquisition, can change the tide in favor of the Jays, who already have a slight edge of 7-3 against the Bronx Bombers this year.

That’s right, the team’s ninety-two-million-dollar man is nearing his return, according to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling. “Anthony Santander is nearing a rehab assignment that could begin Tuesday with Triple-A Buffalo,” Zwelling wrote. He added, “Santander will travel with Blue Jays to New York this weekend to continue his build up and get more reps hitting right-handed. Santander will get at least five games on rehab.” 

But before fans start dreaming of moonshots, here’s the truth: Santander struggled badly before his left shoulder dislocation injury after crashing into an outfield wall against the Los Angeles Angels. He hit just .179 with a .577 OPS, six home runs, and 18 RBIs in 50 games with Toronto. His wRC+ sat at 62, nearly 40 percent below league average, and his WAR was -0.9.

These numbers were simply bad for a player signed to anchor the middle of the order, and especially for a player who just earned his first All-Star nod, blasting 44 home runs and driving in 102 runs for the Orioles in the last season. So, if he finds that form, it’s a game-changer for the Jays’ offense that’s already fourth-best in MLB with an average of five runs per game.

But the question is, where does he fit in the puzzle?

Toronto’s outfield has been both steady and productive already without him. George Springer, now often slotted at DH, is hitting .307 with a .958 OPS and 27 homers. Meanwhile, Daulton Varsho provides elite defense and serious power in center field, with 18 homers and posting 8 Defensive Runs Saved this season. Myles Straw, another outfielder, batted .271 across 118 games. RF Nathan Lukes and LF Davis Schneider have combined for 20 home runs.

Santander’s natural position is right field, but sliding him back could also put Springer into the outfield, where his glove has performed poorly this season(-15.5 def). Or Schneider, who has a .360 OBP and a 135 wRC+, could lose playing time despite of good season.  No matter how you slice it, reinserting Santander means someone productive sits.

And Santander isn’t the only reinforcement knocking on the door. The 2022 Cy Young finalist Alek Manoah recently threw 86 pitches in a Triple-A start after TJ and could slot in as a long reliever by mid-September. Reliever Nick Sandlin, who posted a 2.20 ERA before elbow inflammation, and even Bowden Francis, who was sidelined from June with shoulder issues, are also close to returning.

Still, the problems remain as Closer Jeff Hoffman’s 4.94 ERA and 12 homers in the ninth scream danger.  Even Brendon Little, who was brilliant in the first half, posted a high 5.27 ERA after the All-Star break. And other relievers like Yariel Rodriguez and Louis Varland have also struggled recently.  Though back in the lineup, Guerrero Jr., is nursing a hamstring that could flare again. And this could be trouble against the league’s top-scoring Yankees lineup.

So the question remains: Can the Blue Jays overcome these hurdles and hold onto their division lead?