By The Associated Press’s Jay Cohen
On Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays finally signed a high-profile free agent, Anthony Santander, to a five-year, $92.5 million deal.
According to his agent, the Beverly Hills Sports Council, the deal has a 2030 team option with escalation and an opt-out that could raise the value to $110 million over six seasons.
Before he joined the New York Mets in December, Toronto was in the running for Juan Soto and made a move for Shohei Ohtani last year. Before the Japanese pitcher announced his intention to join with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Blue Jays were allegedly among the finalists for Roki Sasaki.
However, Santander was able to join George Springer, Bo Bichette, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in Toronto’s lineup. After going 74-88 in 2024 and finishing last in the AL East, the Blue Jays are hoping to turn things around.
With 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 91 runs scored in 155 games for Baltimore last season, Santander set career highs. The outfielder made the AL All-Star team for the first time, batting.235 with a.506 slugging percentage.
The only switch hitter to hit 40 home runs in the majors since 2006 was Santander, who turned 30 in October. He joined Chipper Jones, Lance Berkman, and Mickey Mantle (twice) as the only switch hitter to hit at least 44 home runs in a season.
Although it was swept by Kansas City in the first round, the Venezuelan slugger helped Boston go to the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
The Orioles will earn a compensation choice following the first round of this year’s amateur draft because Santander accepted a qualifying offer following the season. The Blue Jays forfeit their 2026 international signing bonus allocation of $500,000 and their second draft pick.
In July 2011, Santander became an international free agent and joined with Cleveland. In December 2016, Baltimore picked him in the Rule 5 draft.
He made his major league debut with the Orioles on August 18, 2017, but he played in just 13 games that season after missing time due to discomfort in his right elbow.
Anthony Santander’s two-run homer in the ninth inning helped the Orioles defeat the Giants 5-3 at Oriole Park on Thursday, ending their late-season slump.AP
In 2022, Santander had a spectacular season, hitting.240 in 152 games with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs. He established himself as a member of a new generation of youthful players as the Orioles, who had lost 110 games the season before, finished 83-79.
With a 101-61 record with 28 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a career-high 41 doubles, Santander hit.257 to help Baltimore win the 2023 AL East. Then, in their AL Division Series, the Rangers swept the Orioles.
Link: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb AP MLB
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