Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander is one of the top players left in free agency this winter. The 30-year-old is coming off a career year in which he slashed .235/.308/.506.
Teams like the Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets are all in pursuit of the 44 home run star.
Rowan Kavner of FOX Sports recently predicted the Toronto Blue Jays to be the team to sign Santander in free agency. Santander is projected to land a contract anywhere between $75 million and $100 million.
"For the Blue Jays, though, Santander's power bat fills a clear need. Toronto's outfielders had the fifth-lowest slugging percentage in the majors last year, and only four teams hit fewer homers than the Blue Jays," Kavner wrote. "Toronto has been linked to several top free agents each of the past couple of years and whiffed. This offseason, the Blue Jays have yet to extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or do anything to impact the power shortage that has held the offense back.
"They're running out of time to strike with this core, but adding Santander would represent a meaningful step forward toward relevance. Over the past three years, only five hitters — Alonso, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, and Matt Olson — have launched more home runs than Santander."
The Blue Jays need to make a move. They've become notorious for being the silver medalist in a lot of top free agent's decisions.
Unfortunately for Toronto, the silver medal means nothing in these sweepstakes.
Acquiring Santander would be a step in the right direction for an organization that desperately needs to take one. The switch-hitting outfielder would likely slot in behind superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the lineup.
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