George Springer is set to play out the final season of his contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2026 —and it will likely be his last with the team, barring an unexpected trade this upcoming year.
Springer authored one of the most surprising comeback seasons in recent memory in 2025, slugging 32 home runs with a .959 OPS in his age-35 season. Both his .309 batting average and .399 on-base percentage were the highest marks of his 12-year career.
He also delivered his signature moment as a Blue Jay with his epic go-ahead, three-run home run in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Seattle Mariners.
Top Plays of 2025: No. 15 George Springer hits a LEGENDARY go-ahead home run in ALCS Game 7 as the Blue Jays clinch their first AL pennant in 32 years!
While Springer is unlikely to repeat his 2025 production next year, the changes he made to his approach should stick. He increased his bat speed from 71.9 mph in 2024 to 73.7 mph in 2025, which, when paired with a deliberate effort to pull the ball in the air more often, directly translated into improved power numbers.
Springer wouldn’t be the first designated hitter to defy Father Time with another strong campaign in 2026; David Ortiz hit 38 home runs for the Boston Red Sox as a 40-year-old in 2015. He could very well have a few more good years in the tank.
The issue is that the Blue Jays already have a designated hitter signed for the long haul: Anthony Santander. The eye test and every metric imaginable suggest he shouldn’t be allowed to wear a glove, let alone play the field. It’s going to be an awkward fit in 2026 that will likely only get worse as Santander gets older in 2027 and beyond.
Santander bouncing back at the plate and Springer regressing would make a breakup easier to stomach, but the Blue Jays may need to entertain more drastic scenarios if the former’s struggles persist while the latter continues his late-career resurgence. The front office can’t afford to be sentimental with either player. Both Springer and Santander’s futures with the Blue Jays should be decided by their performance.
Whoever gives them a better chance to win in 2027 is who should be the DH that year, simply put.
Only time will tell if this is ultimately Springer’s last ride in blue.
