Overview
- Santander reposted videos to his Instagram Story after the U.S. midterm elections that characterized newly elected Muslim officials as radicals and included a post singling out Abdul El-Sayed.
- Screenshots of the now-deleted posts were circulated widely on social media on Thursday and drew sharp public criticism from fans and online accounts.
- The Toronto Blue Jays issued a public statement saying individual comments do not reflect the club's values and emphasizing that baseball is for everyone, while noting the posts were removed.
- Santander is under a five-year, $92.5 million contract, posted poor numbers in 2025, and missed the 2026 major-league season after left labral shoulder surgery with later rehab work reported.
- The controversy adds reputational risk for Santander and poses concrete questions for the club about discipline, clubhouse fit, and roster planning ahead of his $19.2 million 2027 salary and a possible opt-out.