Longtime Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander is one of the best position players still available on the free-agent market. While re-signing with the Orioles doesn't seem likely, could he stay in the American League East by joining the Toronto Blue Jays?
Santander is coming off a career year. He hit .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs, 25 doubles, 102 RBI and 91 runs scored in 665 plate appearances. The switch hitter was one of just four sluggers to surpass the 40-homer mark in 2024. His efforts resulted in a 14th-place finish in AL MVP Award voting, his first All-Star Game selection and his first Silver Slugger Award.
The 30-year-old has been linked to several AL East clubs at various times this winter, including the Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Athletic's Jim Bowden is predicting Santander will bring his talents north of the border to Toronto for 2025 and beyond.
"The Santander market has been strangely quiet, but all indications are he'll end up on a non-contending team and get his long-term contract," Bowden wrote. "There is a lot of buzz in the industry about the Blue Jays being all-in on him, and they definitely need his 44-home run power in between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette in their lineup. The Angels and Giants have also been said to have some level of interest."
Spotrac has projected Santander's contract at five years for $89 million. But if his market heats up, there's a possibility the veteran could sign a deal that reaches nine figures.
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