The Baltimore Orioles are in the running to sign free agent outfielder Anthony Santander, who has spent his entire major league career with the team since 2017. However, the Orioles do not have the top offer out to Santander, according to a report from Z101 Digital’s Hector Gomez. The Blue Jays are reportedly the frontrunners to sign Santander with an offer of four years and $82 million. Other teams such as the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and Baltimore Orioles have also shown interest in signing Santander.
The Blue Jays are seen as a good fit for Santander as they are looking to upgrade their lineup around stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. The Astros also have a need in the outfield after trading Kyle Tucker and signing first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million contract. This move gives Houston a strong infield even if free agent Alex Bregman does not re-sign. The Angels, on the other hand, have a crowded outfield with established players and are potentially looking to use Santander as a designated hitter or make a trade to create space.
Santander, who is 30 years old, has had a successful career with 155 home runs and 435 RBIs in the last eight seasons, all with the Orioles. Last season, he had a career-high 44 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .235/.308/.506 slash line. Baltimore has already lost starting pitcher Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency, creating a gap in their rotation. The Orioles have signed other free agents such as Tomoyuki Sugano, Tyler O’Neill, and Gary Sanchez in an effort to bolster their roster.
Overall, the Orioles are not leading in the sweepstakes to sign Anthony Santander, as other teams like the Blue Jays and Astros have reportedly offered more lucrative deals. Santander’s successful career with the Orioles has drawn interest from several teams, but it remains to be seen where he will ultimately sign. The dynamic of each team’s roster and financial situation will play a key role in determining where Santander ends up playing next. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story in the MLB.
