Anthony Santander is slated to turn into a free agent following the season, and the outfielder informed reporters (together with Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com) that the Orioles haven’t but had any extension talks. The dearth of negotiations didn’t appear to trouble Santander since he’s “simply specializing in serving to my workforce win proper now,” however he reiterated that he wished to stay in Baltimore.
“That is the workforce that gave me the chance to play within the large leagues,” Santander stated. “I like the place we’re proper now. We’re a extremely good workforce. This workforce is about to get in a World Sequence quickly, hopefully this yr. After all I wish to keep right here for the remainder of my profession….So comfortable and thanks for the followers that need me to remain right here.”
Santander started his professional profession in Cleveland’s group, however he got here to the Orioles within the December 2016 Rule 5 Draft, and has subsequently turn into one of many most-cited examples of how the R5 can add expertise to a workforce’s roster. After making his MLB debut in 2017, Santander struggled in his first few tastes of massive league motion earlier than lastly breaking out in the course of the shortened 2020 marketing campaign. After a dropoff in 2021, he obtained again on monitor in 2022-23 and has now stepped up once more with the perfect full season of his profession.
Aaron Choose is the one participant with extra homers than Santander this season, because the O’s stalwart has left the yard 34 instances — already a profession excessive even in early August. Santander’s energy has fueled his 137 wRC+ and general .248/.311/.540 slash line. The batting common and OBP virtually precisely match his profession averages, however whereas constant hitting and getting on-base isn’t at all times straightforward for Santander, he has an above-average strikeout charge and makes probably the most of his contact. He ranks within the 92nd percentile of all hitter in barrels this season, with an excellent 40 over his 110 video games.
Between this offense, a stable right-field glove, and the truth that 2025 might be Santander’s age-30 season, the outfielder figures to land a really good payday on the free agent market this winter. The Orioles will certainly problem him a qualifying provide, and Santander will simply as absolutely reject that one-year provide seeking a longer-term deal, so the O’s would land a compensatory draft choose if Santander signed elsewhere.
With David Rubenstein now proudly owning the Orioles, it’s now not a foregone conclusion that Santander might be sporting one other uniform within the coming years. Rubenstein already okayed a modest payroll enhance to fund the Orioles’ commerce deadline strikes, and GM Mike Elias figures to have significantly more cash to work with because the entrance workplace figures out the perfect path to sustaining and constructing on its excellent core of younger expertise. Since Rubenstein solely formally took over the membership final spring, this offseason represents a brand new period for the franchise when it comes to how the O’s will strategy trades, free agent signings, and the potential of retaining productive stars like Santander.
To this identical finish, it isn’t stunning that Elias and firm haven’t but explored a contract extension with Santander’s reps, given the overlap of Rubenstein’s buy and Spring Coaching (when most groups hash out extensions with impending free brokers). Gamers typically choose to remove distractions by halting contract talks as soon as the season begins, so there’s nothing uncommon within the two sides not holding any discussions.
That stated, Santander’s future in Baltimore has lengthy been thought of a query mark precisely on account of that younger core. Santander’s identify surfaced in commerce hypothesis again when the Orioles have been nonetheless rebuilding, however the membership held onto him on account of his veteran presence and the continued manufacturing that Santander delivered to an O’s workforce that obtained again to rivalry a little bit sooner than anticipated. The longtime outfeld trio of Santander, Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays was formally damaged up on the commerce deadline when Hays was dealt to the Phillies, and Colton Cowser and Heston Kjerstad are actually considered because the outfield staples of the long run. With this duo already getting big-league motion and notable outfield prospects Dylan Beavers, Enrique Bradfield, and Jud Fabian down on the farm, Baltimore would possibly decide to let Santander stroll, and exchange him both from inside or with a short-term veteran outfield bat. Ryan O’Hearn’s membership choice for 2025 looks as if a robust wager to be exercised, giving the Orioles extra nook outfield depth.
