Ex GM: Free Agent Anthony Santander "Great Fit" For Rival AL East Team

While Juan Soto is the prized catch of free agency this year with at least half a dozen teams making their best pitch (translation: offering as much money as they can), there is a nice Plan B outfielder on the market that many of the losing teams in the Soto Sweepstakes will pivot to.

That would be Anthony Santander, who's spent his entire 8-year career with the Baltimore Orioles. They reside in the same division, the AL East, as a few of the potential 'Soto losers'—the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and/or Toronto Blue Jays. Those teams are eminently familiar with the power that Santander could provide to their lineups.

Former MLB GM Jim Duquette appeared on TSN 1050's First Up Thursday morning and said Santander would be a "great fit" for the Toronto Blue Jays.

I think Santander is a real opportunity for some team. I think Toronto is a great fit for him.

What would it cost for the Blue Jays to land the Baltimore slugger? Duquette refers to a big free agency splash the Jays made several years ago as a comparable:

"I use George Springer's contract as kind of a baseline (6 years, $150M). I think Santander might get a little above that, but it's not going to be too far above it. He's a switch hitter, I like his chances there in Toronto."

Santander, 30, had a career year in 2024, blasting a personal best 44 home runs, to go with a career-high 102 RBIs and 91 runs as well as a 134 OPS+. He's averaged 35 HR and 95 RBIs over the past three seasons, his first full big league seasons, playing over 150 games each year.

The Jays are desperate to add some big-time bats, as their offense cratered in 2024 after management's recent efforts to aid "run prevention" by giving up offense have backfired spectacularly. The team plummeted to a 5-year low 74 wins as they finished 26th in MLB in team home runs, 23rd in RBIs and 20th in slugging percentage.