Anthony

Santander

The deal would have included an opt-out after the second season and deferred money. The interesting takeaway is that the Royals were in the market for a big bat to upgrade the middle of their lineup and improve their outfield. It’s possible that they are still looking to upgrade and could make a big move before the season begins.

The deal is now official. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports that the agreement includes an opt-out following the 2027 season that is tied to a club option for 2030 that brings the total value to $110 million. KPRC 2 Houston’s Ari Alexander adds that the deal also contains more than $35 million deferred. Santander provides Toronto’s lineup with an immediate jolt as a middle-of-the-order force to complement franchise cornerstone Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The switch-hitting 30-year-old slugger, who blasted a career-best 44 dingers last year in his final season with the Orioles, has eclipsed 28 round-trippers in each of the past three seasons. His multi-year track record as an upper-echelon four-category impact contributor make it relatively easy for fantasy managers to forecast him as a near-lock to reach the 30-homer mark in his Blue Jays debut and finish next season as a top 25 fantasy outfielder.

The Blue Jays needed this one. After coming so close on Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and Roki Sasaki, the Blue Jays needed to land a premiere talent, and they had no problem paying for it. The total guarantee is reportedly $92.5 million over five years. The 30-year-old Santander is coming off his best season ever, hitting a career-high 44 home runs and driving in 102 runs for the Orioles. He will likely slot in as the primary designated hitter and bat clean-up behind Vladimir Guerero Jr. but will also play some corner outfield. His presence in the middle of the lineup is a huge boost for Toronto, who was set to play Will Wagner as one of the primary designated hitters. The additions of Santander and Andres Gimenez squash a lot of Wagner’s fantasy value, and we should see a bit of regression for Santander as well considering he is now in a worse lineup than he was in last year, and Baltimore ranked 8th among all stadiums in Statcast’s park factor for left-handed power, while Toronto ranks 19th. Since the switch-hitting Santander will face mostly right-handed pitchers, we should expect a return to around 30 home runs with a .240 average and around 170 Runs+RBI. That certainly makes him a solid fantasy asset, but we would not pay for last season’s production.

Nicholson-Smith and Davidi note that talks between the two sides picked up on Friday morning. For what seems like a few weeks now, the Blue Jays have been mentioned as one of the favorites to land either Santander or Alex Bregman, and it sounds like they’re making a strong push to get Santander. The 30-year-old slugger crushed a career-high 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs for the Orioles in 2024 and would provide a major boost to the middle of the Blue Jays’ lineup.

The Red Sox are expected to be in the mix as well, but Heyman sees the Tigers and Blue Jays as the current frontrunners. Both clubs are also viewed as the favorites to land Anthony Santander, so it’s possible that each club winds up with one of the top remaining free agent sluggers. Bregman is still reportedly seeking a contract in the range of $200 million after turning down a $156 million offer from the Astros.

The Blue Jays were also heavily involved in the bidding for Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes, and Teoscar Hernandez, but each player decided to sign elsewhere, some for less money. The Blue Jays are desperate to add talent around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in an effort to keep him in Toronto beyond this season, and Santander would certainly be a solid bat to add to the mix. The 30-year-old is coming off a career-best year in which he hit 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs for the Orioles. If he were to sign in Toronto, he would immediately slot in as the clean-up hitter behind Vlad Jr. and bump either Will Wagner or Joey Loperfido from the regular lineup, depending on whether or not Toronto chooses to play Santander in the field.

The Tigers are canvassing the free agent market for strong right-handed bats to add to their lineup and leaving no stone unturned. Their top priority is still Alex Bregman, who they are trying to lock in as their everyday third baseman, but if they’re unable to sign him it sounds like they could pivot to Santander. They’ll face plenty of competition in doing so, as the Blue Jays, Yankees and Red Sox are all believed to be in the mix for his services as well and the Orioles haven’t shut the door on a potential reunion. Santander is reportedly seeking a five-year contract that would be worth more than $100 million.

The switch-hitting slugger is one of the top outfielders remaining on the free agent market following Juan Soto signing his historic deal with the Mets, so expect some of the teams that missed out on Soto to pivot in his direction. Heyman notes that the Blue Jays have made him a priority while the Yankees and Red Sox are believed to be in the mix as well. A return to the Orioles could be possible as well, so there appears to be a strong likelihood that Santander remains in the American League East.

That means the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Red Sox are all sniffing around the 30-year-old who is coming off a career-best year in which he hit 44 home runs and drove in 102 runs. The switch hitter would get a park upgrade in either Boston or New York, so those two remain the most fantasy-friendly destinations for him of the three. We should see his market heat up quickly.

The Blue Jays are desperately looking for additional thump in their lineup, and Santander would fit the bill after hitting 44 home runs and driving in 102 runs this season. He has the ability to play corner outfield and first base, so he could provide flexibility for the lineup in addition to added power in the middle of the order; however, the 30-year-old figures to be an attractive option on the free agent market, so the Blue Jays will have to spend to get him.