Anthony Santander and the Blue Jays Have Reportedly Reached a 5-Year, $92.5M Deal
Former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander has agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, as reported by MLB Network’s Jon Morosi on Monday. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic later revealed that the agreement is for five years and worth over $92.5 million, with a club option for a sixth season and the potential for Santander to opt out after the third year. If the team voids the opt-out, the deal could extend to six years and $110 million.
Santander, 30, earned his first All-Star selection and Silver Slugger in the 2024 season, hitting .235 with 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, 91 runs, and an .814 OPS. Over the past three seasons, he’s established himself as one of the most dangerous sluggers in the American League, hitting 33 home runs in 2022 and 28 in 2023.
Given his production, Santander became a key target for teams that missed out on Juan Soto, and the Orioles were prepared for the possibility of losing him this winter.
In early November, Orioles GM Mike Elias mentioned the challenge of potentially losing Santander, along with their top starting pitcher from last year, Corbin Burnes, to free agency. Elias acknowledged the team would need to explore the market for replacements if they couldn’t re-sign those players.
While the Orioles have made the postseason in the past two years with Santander’s contributions, they have yet to secure a playoff win. Now, they face the prospect of moving forward without one of their top hitters.
For the Blue Jays, signing Santander addresses their need for offensive strength and bolsters their lineup alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., especially as they aim to keep pace in the competitive AL East. However, despite Santander’s addition, the Blue Jays’ failure to land Soto, Burnes, or Rōki Sasaki may leave some fans feeling disappointed by the offseason.
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