Orioles might have just outsmarted everyone with latest Anthony Santander update

The Baltimore Orioles got through the first day of spring training without any surprising injury updates. Though the good luck only lasted one day, the team announced on Wednesday that Jackson Holliday will undergo surgery to repair a broken hand. Holliday will likely be sidelined for several weeks beyond Opening Day, but if there's a silver lining, it's a more encouraging timeline than what the Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with after Anthony Santander's latest injury update.

Not bringing Santander back last offseason, and signing Tyler O'Neill in his place, was certainly a decision that fans were critical of, as it reflected Mike Elias' decision-making. While Elias still has yet to erase the doubt when it comes to his roster construction, the decision to avoid a reunion with Santander looks like a stroke of genius.

Anthony Santander is one the decisions that Mike Elias actually got right

The Blue Jays announced on Tuesday that Santander suffered a shoulder injury during his offseason program and will be undergoing left labral surgery. The 31-year-old outfielder is expected to miss five-to-six months.

Many Orioles fans felt like the team should have matched the five-year deal Santander signed with the Blue Jays, worth $92.5 million, but it's a contract that suddenly looks like a nightmare. Injuries limited Santander to only 54 games last season, and when he was healthy, he was a far cry from the middle-of-the-order hitter that Orioles fans remember. He slashed .175/.271/.294 with a wRC+ of 61 and only 6 home runs.

O'Neill, obviously, wasn't much better, but the Orioles will be out of the contract after the 2027 season. Meanwhile, Santander's deal with the Blue Jays does have an opt-out after 2027, but this latest update likely makes it moot.

Santander wasn't the only injury update for Toronto as veteran starting pitcher Shane Bieber may not be ready for Opening Day after experiencing shoulder fatigue, and Bowden Francis will miss the season after undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery.

The Blue Jays remain the favorites in the AL East, but these injuries may have slightly closed the gap for the Orioles. The Orioles' roster isn't perfect, especially after the Holliday injury, but if they can find a frontline starting pitcher, they might just have a fighter's chance.