The Toronto Blue Jays have signed slugger Anthony Santander to a five-year deal, adding much-needed power to their lineup after a tough season.
Toronto: The Blue Jays have finally made a big move by signing Anthony Santander. After missing out on other free agents, this is a welcome change.
A team source confirmed that they’ve agreed on a contract, and Santander has already completed his physical. While the team hasn’t officially announced it yet, reports say it’s a five-year deal worth over $90 million.
Santander had an impressive season last year, hitting 44 home runs and driving in 102 runs with the Baltimore Orioles. He’s expected to bring some serious power to the Blue Jays’ lineup.
At 30, he’s a switch-hitter and has spent his entire career with the Orioles. He really broke out last season, even making the All-Star team.
Over the last three years, he’s averaged 35 homers and 95 RBIs. In Toronto, he’ll likely be the designated hitter, but he can also play in the outfield when needed.
This addition is great news for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who could use some support in the batting order after a tough year.
Santander has a career batting average of .246 and a solid slugging percentage. The Blue Jays struggled offensively last season, finishing last in the American League East.
This offseason is crucial for them, especially after reaching the wild-card round in three of the previous four years.
They were in the running for other big names like Juan Soto and Roki Sasaki but missed out. However, they did make some moves, including acquiring second baseman Andres Gimenez and adding relievers to strengthen their bullpen.
But signing Santander is the first major step to boost their offense.
He’s made history as the first switch-hitter to hit 40 homers since 2006, joining legends like Mickey Mantle and Chipper Jones.
Santander started his journey with Cleveland as an international free agent and was picked by the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft. After a slow start due to injuries, he made his debut in 2017.
In 2022, he hit .240 with 33 homers, helping the Orioles bounce back from a rough season.
