Free agent slugger Anthony Santander is among the prime energy bats in the marketplace this winter and has drawn curiosity from a wide selection of suitors, together with the Crimson Sox and Blue Jays. Jon Heyman of the New York Publish writes that Santander can also be of curiosity to the Yankees, now that Juan Soto is in Queens, and provides that the longtime Orioles slugger is in search of a five-year contract in free company.
The switch-hitting Santander is coming off a profession yr during which he belted a personal-best 44 house runs. He’s heading into his age-30 season and doing so on the heels of a .235/.308/.506 batting line (129 wRC+). Santander doesn’t hit for a lot common and usually carries a pedestrian (at greatest) stroll price, however he’s been a constant supply of energy for the O’s in current seasons. Courting again to 2020, the previous Rule 5 decide is a .245/.312/.476 hitter with 134 house runs, a 7.8% stroll price and a 20.6% strikeout price. This previous season’s 8.7% stroll price was the very best of Santander’s profession, whereas his 19.4% strikeout price was his second-lowest in a full 162-game season.
Defensively, Santander hasn’t generated significantly sturdy evaluations in current seasons, however his work in 2024 drew harsher grades than standard. Defensive Runs Saved pegged him at -7, whereas Statcast’s Outs Above Common was at -2. Santander’s common dash velocity, per Statcast, sat in simply the 18th percentile of huge league gamers this previous season (26.0 ft/sec). His uncooked arm power was higher than common, however Statcast nonetheless pegged his throwing worth as effectively beneath common, probably suggesting some inaccurate and/or ill-advised throws.
Traditionally talking, there’s some precedent for this ability set — defensively restricted, corner-only slugger — nonetheless touchdown a five-year pact. Nick Castellanos involves thoughts as the latest instance, having inked a five-year, $100MM take care of the Phillies simply three winters in the past. That very same offseason noticed Kyle Schwarber signal for 4 years and $79MM with the Phils. Previous to that, J.D. Martinez landed a five-year, $110MM take care of the Crimson Sox to function a full-time DH.
Every of Castellanos (140 wRC+), Schwarber (145) and particularly Martinez (170) had been coming off superior offensive seasons in free company, nonetheless. Of the three, solely Castellanos acquired and rejected a qualifying provide. Neither Schwarber nor Martinez had been eligible for qualifying presents once they reached free company, as each had been traded throughout their respective stroll years — Martinez from Detroit to Arizona, and Schwarber from Washington to Boston.
All of these causes factored into MLBTR’s choice to “solely” predict a four-year deal price $20MM per season for Santander on the outset of free company. After all, within the six weeks since our Prime 50 Free Agent Rankings had been printed, the market has confirmed to be essentially the most aggressive in current reminiscence. Whereas the place participant market hasn’t but to totally take form past Juan Soto’s expectation-shattering $765MM contract, it’s been a bull marketplace for beginning pitching. Whether or not that can carry over to the offensive aspect of the market stays unclear, however Santander seems effectively positioned to money in.
The Yankees, who had been spurned by Soto, have already spent a shocking $218MM on Max Fried and simply earlier at the moment acquired Devin Williams from the Brewers. They nonetheless have a gap in proper discipline, nonetheless, and whereas Santander wouldn’t make up for the entire misplaced manufacturing from Soto, “Tony Taters” would provide comparable house run energy (with decrease averages and dramatically decrease on-base abilities). Equally, the Blue Jays have been making an attempt to make a splash to improve their lineup however got here up empty of their Soto bid. The Crimson Sox don’t want one other nook bat in the mean time, but when they deal from their inventory of outfielders to accumulate extra beginning pitching, that calculus might change. Different groups in search of middle-of-the-order bats embody the Nationals, Tigers and Dodgers, amongst others.
Santander’s market is in some ways linked to that of Teoscar Hernandez, a equally powered-up bat with defensive questions and a rejected qualifying provide hanging over his head. Hernandez is 2 years older and thus appears prone to signal a shorter deal, however he might nonetheless land three or even perhaps 4 years if the market is powerful sufficient.
