Blue Jays receive expensive consolation prize in Anthony Santander: Law

I was afraid this would happen: After several free agent pursuits that saw the Blue Jays fail, they finally landed a big name… but it took a huge overpayment to do it. They gave Anthony Santander a five-year, $92 million contract, with player options, deferred money, and other bells and whistles, a deal that should definitely get them 2-3 wins better this year, but which I really doubt will age well. at all.

Santander is coming off a career year in which he set personal bests in home runs, walks and wRC+, although he also had the lowest BABIP and batting average of his career. He’s a real powerhouse, and he swings towards the seats, attacking the ball with intent and a lot of lift in his finishing to try and put the ball in the air, which produces a bunch of long balls and also a lot of pop-ups. He’s a below-average defender at an outside corner and is likely to decline even further now that he’s in his 30s. The glove is still playable at the moment, with the need for DH becoming more and more likely over the course of his contract.

The Blue Jays needed a bat like Santander’s, as their existing options for outfield corner were Thoughts and Prayers, neither of whom had a particularly good 2024. George Springer might be toast, as he is 35 years old and his production has declined for five straight years. seasons. He still has two years and just over $48 million left on his contract, which no one will accept, and they need to just bench him and give Santander those bats. The other corner is still available, although I would like to see Joey Loperfido, acquired in the Yusei Kikuchi trade, try his luck there. They need to stop wasting at-bats on guys like Davis Schneider, who got 454 PA as a replacement player last year, mostly in left field, or Ernie Clement, an outstanding defender at third base who had an OBP of .284 and drew 10 unintentional walks in 139 games. Give that playing time to the guys getting on base or hitting dingers, please and thank you.

This is a great result for Santander. He was one of the last big sticks in free agency, but he fits the type of player who ages poorly in his 30s: more power than punch, no speed and poor defense already in the corner. He could have a huge 2025 season, and maybe that will justify that commitment if it helps the Jays contend for the playoffs, but the five-year outlook — assuming he doesn’t opt ​​out, and I guess that he won’t – are dark. .

There’s not much left for teams still looking to improve their offense, a list that should at least include the Mariners and Giants, but I can’t blame them for letting Santander get away with it given the duration of the agreement. He might have been the better fit for the Mariners, who need power more than OBP help, but their need is more acute on the dirt than on the field. The Giants are a better fit on the roster, but they have power and need more help from the OBP. The best free agent outfield remaining is probably Jurickson Profar, who had his own career year in 2024, but was so bad in 2023 that the Rockies released him, so I certainly wouldn’t blame any team that wants to go for it. a dangerous material. continuation before these negotiations.

(Photo: Nick Turchiaro / USA Today)