Blue Jays’ Barger to have surgery, miss rest of season with elbow injury
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman and outfielder Addison Barger will miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to elbow surgery. The news was announced on Friday, marking an end to what has been an injury-plagued year for the player.
Barger’s season was significantly impacted by injuries, limiting his appearances. He played in eight games earlier in the year before a left ankle sprain sidelined him. After being activated from the injured list on May 9, he played one more game. During this game, he made a strong throw from the outfield against the Los Angeles Angels, after which he was placed back on the injured list due to right elbow inflammation two days later.
Impact on the Blue Jays
The loss of Barger for the season is a blow to the Blue Jays, who have faced numerous injuries across their roster this year, affecting their starting rotation, bullpen, and position players. Manager John Schneider commented on the situation, stating, “It’s tough to lose the whole year of at-bats, reps and performance. We were counting on him to be a big part of our team. You can see how much we miss him, for sure.”
Barger’s performance in his limited nine games this season included slashing .045/.214/.091 with a .305 OPS, a double, and two RBIs. Last year, he was a key contributor to the team’s World Series run, hitting 21 home runs and slashing .243/.301/.454, with an additional three home runs in the postseason.
The type of elbow surgery Barger will undergo is not yet known, with options including Tommy John surgery or an internal brace alternative. The former typically has an estimated recovery time of nine months, while the latter is estimated at six months. He is currently on the 60-day injured list and will remain there through the end of the season, potentially impacting his availability for part of the 2027 season.
Team Outlook and Other Injuries
Barger is not the only player for the Blue Jays who will miss the rest of the season. Anthony Santander, who signed a five-year contract with the team before the 2025 season, is also out for the year due to a series of injuries. Santander played in 54 games this season, recording five doubles, six home runs, and 18 RBIs.
The Blue Jays entered Friday in fifth place in the American League East with a 47-56 record, 12.5 games behind for first place in the division. With Barger out, Kazuma Okamoto is expected to be the regular at third base. The outfield situation may see more changes, with players like Daulton Varsho, Nathan Lukes, George Springer, Yohendrick Piñango, Davis Schneider, and Myles Straw currently on the roster.
Other players on the injured list include Jesús Sánchez, who recently started a rehab assignment, and Jonatan Clase and Lenyn Sosa. Rudy Martin was claimed off waivers this week and has been sent to Triple-A. The team could consider making trades before the August 3 deadline, as Varsho and Springer are impending free agents. Straw’s deal includes a club option for next year with a buyout.
The hope is that Barger will return by Opening Day 2027, though the composition of the team around him will depend on upcoming trades and offseason moves.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
