Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal of 'The Athletic' told the Foul Territory crew that the Toronto Blue Jays are willing to add money at the looming trade deadline, which is Aug. 3.

The Blue Jays enter play on Sunday at 38-39 and tied for the third and final wild card spot in the American League. Rosenthal astutely notes that the team has many needs, including bullpen help, rotation help and a right-handed hitting outfielder.

But the last point is interesting, because we're wondering: How might Anthony Santander factor into the plans? 

Signed to a five-year deal before the 2025 season, Santander has played just 54 games with the Jays, hitting .175 with six home runs. Each of those 54 games came a season ago, with him missing most of the campaign with a shoulder injury.

Santander returned for the end of the regular season, but was removed from the roster during the American League Championship Series with a back issue. He had surgery this offseason on his troublesome left labrum.

But on Thursday, manager John Schneider said that Santander is working back and could be a part of the roster down the stretch. The Blue Jays are targeting an August return, per reports.

Well, Santander is a switch-hitter, so could the team just utilize him as the trade deadline acquisition that Rosenthal mentions? Not regarded as a good defender, would he really be able to fill the outfield hole? Furthermore, though his labrum injury is not on his throwing arm, it's at least something to think about defensively. Does the team want him at risk of diving and landing on it?

Or would the team have to put George Springer in the outfield and Santander at designated hitter? That could work logistically, but it would make Toronto worse defensively, as Springer is also no longer regarded as a solid defender.

And there's the question, just how much can the Jays trust Santander given the last 1.5 years of his career? Can they afford to give him a job upon return, or do they need to have a roster insurance policy? If they bring on an additional roster piece, how will everybody fit together?

A lot can happen between now and Aug. 3, but these are the things that the Blue Jays front office need to be thinking of in advance of it.

The Jays and Chicago Cubs will finish out their weekend series at Wrigley Field on Sunday at 2:20 p.m. ET. Dylan Cease will pitch against Shota Imanaga. Cease is 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA while Imanaga is 4-6 with a 4.26.

Remember to join our BLUE JAYS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Blue Jays fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!