How the Toronto Blue Jays should utilize Anthony Santander if he returns

Santander is making real progress as he works his way back from his shoulder injury, he's doing full baseball activities which includes hitting on the field, running and fielding drills.

If Santander can return this month, he'll begin a rehab assignment as early as next weekend. Furthermore, the Blue Jays have Santander "doing everything" he can to make it back.

It sounds more realistic than ever that Santander could return in 2025.

For the most part, the Blue Jays lineup has weathered the storm without Santander.

However, there are some holes that are starting to show, and injecting a guy with Santander's power potential into the lineup at a time when other guys need a breather could be the exact thing the Blue jays need to get over the finish line.

Santander could be inserted into the lineup depending on matchups without completely disrupting the flow of current players' playing time.

Addison Barger, Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement are all players who could be relieved by Santander in platoon roles.

While Barger has been a welcomed addition to the lineup, especially with his 18 home runs (which is third overall on the team) he's had a tough month of August, with a .193/.236/.325 slash line, with just three home runs in 23 games.

For Lukes, he hit five home runs in 25 games in July, but has hit just one home run in 25 games in August. And Clement just hasn't been able to replicate his numbers against righties (three home runs, .312 SLG), that he has against lefties (six home runs, .575 SLG).

As a switch-hitter Santander could come find a role in this lineup but giving the Blue Jays a potentially better power option than the three players noted above, while letting them get more at-bats against pitchers that they should have better success against.

There's no guarantee that Santander will be able to replicate his success from last season, especially after not seeing MLB pitching since May - but at this point, the Blue Jays could use all the help they can get, and that includes Santander who has hit 105 home runs over the last three seasons.