At GM Meetings, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins calls Anthony Santander’s anti-Muslim posts “extremely concerning, extremely disappointing”

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins addressed the organization’s biggest offseason non-baseball issue on Tuesday, saying Anthony Santander’s discriminatory posts toward Muslims shared on Instagram stories were “extremely concerning, extremely disappointing.”

Atkins made the comments during his first public appearance this offseason while he is in Las Vegas for the annual GM Meetings at the Aria Resort and Casino. He said he has already expressed his disappointment directly to Santander and that he also spoke with him about a “lack of awareness.”

Atkins said the team would work with Santander to learn from the situation, while stressing that the matter is “much bigger than” baseball team-building. He said he did not want it to be framed in the context of performance or roster construction.

The Blue Jays had previously issued an inclusion-focused statement after the posts circulated, saying “Baseball is for everyone” and that individual comments do not reflect the organization’s values. Atkins said Santander eventually deleted the posts.

Atkins also indicated that Santander has not yet made the kind of public statement Atkins believes was needed. He said he told Santander he needed to and that he should.

Separately, the MLB-reported discussion placed the social-media controversy alongside a broader, already difficult team reality for Santander, noting that after signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal, his first two seasons with the Blue Jays included limited time on the field due to shoulder injuries and an overall disappointing production line.