The Blue Jays, Yankees and Purple Sox have robust curiosity in free agent outfielder Anthony Santander, per Jon Morosi of MLB.com (X hyperlink). The Jays and Yankees have been linked to Santander in earlier rumors.
The match is logical as all three golf equipment simply got here up brief of their pursuit of Juan Soto. This winter’s free agent outfield market featured Soto on the high, clearly on a tier by himself, properly above the remainder. The extent under featured a cluster of men together with Santander, Teoscar Hernández, Jurickson Profar, Tyler O’Neill, Michael Conforto and others. O’Neill and Conforto are additionally off the board now, along with Soto, so it’s pure that these golf equipment would pivot to the blokes nonetheless obtainable.
Santander, 30, doesn’t have Soto’s youth or plate self-discipline however there’s no doubting the ability. He has hit at the very least 28 residence runs in every of the previous three seasons, together with 44 in the newest marketing campaign, resulting in 105 general for the 2022-24 seasons. His 8.5% stroll price in that point was proper round league common, together with his 20.5% strikeout price barely higher than par. His .244/.317/.478 batting line for that stretch led to a 124 wRC+, indicating he was 24% higher than league common.
Provided that wholesome manufacturing, it’s unsurprising that he’s producing loads of curiosity. What additionally works in his favor is that he’s a switch-hitter with out robust platoon splits. As a righty in opposition to lefties, he hit .239/.309/.513 in 2024 for a 132 wRC+. For the inverse cut up, he hit .225/.306/.488 for a 123 wRC+. For his profession, he has a 111 wRC+ in opposition to lefties and 116 in opposition to righties.
That balanced assault means he ought to be capable to match into the plans of any membership with an outfield want, or maybe a gap at designated hitter. His outfield protection has been subpar in his profession, with grades of -3 Defensive Runs Saved and -13 Outs Above Common. He has gotten temporary appears to be like at first base just lately, with 72 innings at that spot in 2023 and yet another in 2024.
Regardless of the defensive issues, Santander’s energy bat is without doubt one of the finest obtainable. Maybe some membership could be prepared to dwell with the subpar protection, or possibly attempt to slot Santander in at first base or designated hitter down the highway. At the beginning of the winter, MLBTR predicted Santander might earn a assure of $80MM over 4 years.
For the Sox, they’d doubtless be taking a look at Santander as an outfielder. Their nook infield and designated hitter combine is already crowded, with Rafael Devers at third, Triston Casas at first and Masataka Yoshida a main choice for designated hitter. There have been some rumors that the Sox wish to signal a 3rd baseman and transfer Devers over to the opposite facet of the diamond, which might doubtless require Casas or Yoshida to be moved.
Within the outfield, the Sox have some good choices however they might match Santander into the combo. Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu challenge to be in two spots, however each are left-handed hitters with notable platoon splits. The lineup is already pretty left-leaning as Devers, Casas and Yoshida all hit from that facet as properly. The best-handed Rob Refsnyder may also help out a bit however having Santander as an on a regular basis choice would assist stabilize the entire group.
Ceddanne Rafaela could possibly be concerned within the outfield group as properly however he’s a glove-first choice who may also play the infield. Roman Anthony is without doubt one of the high prospects within the sport however he has not but turned 21 years previous and solely has 35 video games of Triple-A expertise so far. He’s additionally a left-handed hitter, so he’ll exacerbate the membership’s slant in that path even when he earns his approach into the large league plans.
The Sox have been trying to be aggressive this winter with the rotation being a main focus however including Santander or one other large bat to the lineup would clearly assist as properly. They’re reportedly even prepared to pay the posh tax underneath the fitting circumstances. RosterResource at the moment initiatives the membership’s tax quantity at $181MM, which is $60MM under subsequent 12 months’s base threshold of $241MM. That ought to give them sufficient wiggle room to signal Santander or one other outfielder in addition to a notable beginning pitcher, in the event that they so select. The Sox have been linked to varied rotation choices, together with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried.
The Jays and Yankees have been linked to only about each big-name free agent, although each golf equipment have been centered on Soto till now. The approaching days ought to see them pivot and gauge the market on guys like Fried, Burnes, Santander, Hernández, Alex Bregman and others, as these guys have every been linked to each the Yankees and Jays in rumors this offseason.
The lack of Soto clearly leaves an enormous gap within the Yankee outfield, so they are going to absolutely be contemplating numerous choices to bolster the group alongside Aaron Choose, Trent Grisham and Jasson Domínguez. That might embrace the aforementioned free brokers however the Yanks have reportedly contacted the Cubs a couple of Cody Bellinger commerce.
The Jays have George Springer and Daulton Varsho as their two most established outfielders, although Varsho is recovering from shoulder surgical procedure and won’t be prepared for Opening Day. They’ve Nathan Lukes, Joey Loperfido, Jonatan Clase and different guys on the roster however these guys are all pretty restricted when it comes to their main league expertise.
Santander rejected a qualifying supply from the Orioles at season’s finish, in order that membership will obtain draft choose compensation if he in the end indicators elsewhere. That feels pretty inevitable now that they’ve an settlement with O’Neill, successfully changing Santander within the membership’s outfield combine. If Santander indicators a contract price greater than $50MM, the O’s will get a choose after the primary spherical of the upcoming draft. The signing membership will even be topic to penalties, relying on whether or not they’re income sharing recipients or paid the aggressive steadiness tax in 2024.
