MLB News: Anthony Santander, Blue Jays Reportedly Agree to 5-Year, $92.5M Contract

Anthony Santander is on the move.

The former Baltimore Orioles outfielder agreed to a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the two sides agreed to a five-year deal worth more than $92.5 million:

Santander, 30, was a first-time All-Star and Silver Slugger in the 2024 season, hitting .235 with 44 homers, 102 RBI, 91 runs and a .814 OPS. He emerged as one of the more dangerous sluggers in the American League over the past three seasons, blasting 33 homers in 2022 and 28 dingers in 2023.

That made him one of the more appealing potential consolation prizes for teams who missed out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, and the Orioles knew it was a possibility they'd lose him this winter and were preparing contingency plans.

"Anthony being a free agent right now, the possibility of losing him from the right side of the plate is something that we're looking at," general manager Mike Elias told reporters in early November. "And then, our best starting pitcher from last year [Corbin Burnes] is going into the free-agent process. We hope it's those guys [we re-sign]. But those profiles will definitely be missed if it's not those guys, and so we're going to have to look at the market for alternatives, too."

The Orioles have made the postseason in each of the last two years, in part due to Santander's contributions, but failed to win a playoff game in either season. Now, the team is facing life without their most potent slugger.

The Blue Jays had to address the offense and bullpen this offseason in an effort to keep pace in the loaded AL East. Santander should help with the former, giving Toronto a much-needed injection of power into the middle of the lineup to pair with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

But his arrival also follows Toronto's unsuccessful pursuits of Soto, Corbin Burnes and Rōki Sasaki. Signing Santander probably won't stop fans from looking at the winter as a big disappointment.