Blue Jays’ latest Addison Barger setback is becoming impossible to ignore

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Blue Jays’ latest Addison Barger setback is becoming impossible to ignore originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Toronto Blue Jays entered the 2026 season expecting Addison Barger to become one of the steady everyday pieces in the middle of their lineup. Instead, the early part of the season has turned into a frustrating cycle of injuries, setbacks and unanswered questions. Barger has appeared in only nine games this season, and the latest update from manager John Schneider did little to ease concerns before Monday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins.

According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, Schneider said Barger is “probably still a couple days away from starting throwing,” while also admitting “it’s been a little slower with him.” For a Blue Jays club desperately trying to stabilize its roster, that is not the kind of timeline anyone in Toronto wanted to hear.

Addison Barger is "probably still a couple days away from starting throwing" per manager John Schneider. "It's been a little slower with him."

— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) May 25, 2026

Not great situation​

The situation has spiraled quickly for the 26-year-old infielder. Barger originally injured both ankles on April 5 while trying to beat out a ground ball against the Chicago White Sox. The awkward landing immediately sent him to the injured list and disrupted what many believed could be a breakout follow-up campaign after his strong 2025 season.

When Barger finally returned on May 10, there was optimism that Toronto’s lineup was about to get one of its most dangerous left-handed bats back. That optimism barely lasted 48 hours. He was scratched shortly afterward and sent back to the injured list because of right elbow inflammation. Now, the recovery process appears to be dragging longer than expected, which only increases the pressure on a Blue Jays team already fighting to stay afloat in the AL East race.

Pressure is on​

That pressure becomes even heavier when considering how important Barger became last season. He hit .243 with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs across 135 games while establishing himself as one of Toronto’s key offensive contributors. His postseason production raised his profile even more after he batted .367 with three home runs and nine RBIs during the Blue Jays’ run to the World Series.

Toronto simply has not been able to replace that production consistently.

The injury concerns also extend beyond Barger. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. exited Sunday’s loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates after taking a pitch off his right elbow, adding another layer of anxiety for the organization. Pitcher Dylan Cease also reportedly dealt with mild hamstring discomfort during the same game.

At 25-28, the Blue Jays are still close enough to stay relevant in the postseason picture, but the margin for error is shrinking quickly. The longer Barger remains sidelined, the harder it becomes to ignore how much this lineup misses him.

Toronto now heads into its series against Miami searching for answers and hoping this latest Barger setback does not become another lingering problem that defines its season.

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