The Toronto Blue Jays are aggressively pursuing free agent slugger Anthony Santander, with discussions gaining momentum. The Blue Jays, who’ve been tied to Santander for the reason that offseason started, are desperate to safe his providers after lacking out on different notable free brokers.
“SOURCE: Blue Jays’ talks with Anthony Santander picked up. Jays are decided to make an enormous transfer.” by way of Héctor Gómez on X, previously Twitter.
Latest stories point out that Toronto’s curiosity within the 30-year-old switch-hitter has intensified, particularly following Roki Sasaki’s determination to signal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Whereas Sasaki’s signing didn’t affect the Blue Jays’ payroll, it left the staff nonetheless looking for a marquee acquisition to headline their offseason.
Santander is coming off a career-best season with the Baltimore Orioles. The facility-hitting outfielder smashed 44 residence runs and drove in 102 runs in 2024, incomes his first All-Star choice, a Silver Slugger award, and ending 14th in AL MVP voting. During the last three seasons, Santander has established himself as one of many league’s premier sluggers, averaging 36 homers per 162 video games.
Blue Jays near a take care of the previous Orioles slugger
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Toronto’s want for an influence bat is urgent. Final season, the Blue Jays ranked within the backside 5 in MLB for residence runs, and their .389 slugging share positioned them twentieth total. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the staff’s lone constant supply of energy, hitting 30 residence runs, whereas no different participant surpassed 19. With Santander’s confirmed potential to generate offense, he would supply a much-needed increase to a lineup that has struggled to capitalize on scoring alternatives.
Along with his energy, Santander’s sturdiness provides vital worth. Because the begin of the 2022 season, he has missed solely 26 video games. Nonetheless, his efficiency at Rogers Centre has been blended; whereas he has been a thorn in Toronto’s aspect throughout head-to-head matchups, his profession batting common on the stadium is simply .194.
Toronto’s talks with Santander reportedly embrace discussions of a possible four-year, $82 million deal. Nonetheless, rumors recommend that Santander might now be open to a shorter-term contract with a better annual common worth, which may shift the negotiations.
Ought to the Blue Jays finalize a take care of Santander, their outfield would function an thrilling trio, together with Gold Glove winner Daulton Varsho and four-time All-Star George Springer. Mixed with a core of Guerrero, Bo Bichette, Andrés Giménez, and Alejandro Kirk, the Blue Jays would boast a lineup able to contending within the AL East.
For now, the Blue Jays’ willpower to land Santander stays clear, with the staff pushing to solidify a deal that might considerably elevate their postseason aspirations in 2025.