Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox have strong interest in free agent outfielder Anthony Santandervia Jon Morosi of MLB.com (X link). The Blue Jays and Yankees were previously rumored to be linked to Santander.
The fit is logical as all three clubs have failed to achieve what they are seeking Juan Soto. Soto is at the top of this winter’s free-agent outfield market and is clearly in a league of his own, well above everyone else’s. There was a group of people on the floor below, including Santander, Teoscar Hernandez, Jurikson Profal, Tyler O’Neal, Michael Conforto and others. In addition to Soto, O’Neill and Conforto are now ruled out, so these clubs will naturally turn to players who are still available.
The 30-year-old Santander doesn’t have Soto’s youth and defensive discipline, but his quality is unquestionable. He has hit at least 28 home runs in each of the past three seasons, including 44 in the most recent season, bringing his total to 105 in 2022-24. His 8.5% on-base rate in that time was right around league average, and his 20.5% strikeout rate was just above par. His .244/.317/.478 batting line during that span resulted in a 124 wRC+, indicating he was 24% better than league average.
Considering his fitness performance, it’s no surprise that he’s attracted a lot of interest. What works in his favor is that he’s a switch-hitter and doesn’t have a strong platoon split. As a righty against lefties, he hit .239/.309/.513 in 2024 for a 132 wRC+. Against the reverse split, he hit .225/.306/.488 for a 123 wRC+. For his career, he has a wRC+ of 111 against lefties and 116 against righties.
This balanced offense means he should be able to fit into the plans of any club with an outfielder need, or perhaps a designated hitter vacancy. His outfield defense has been subpar throughout his career, with a -3 ERA and a -13 ERA above average. He has seen brief looks at first base recently, spending 72 innings at first base in 2023 and another in 2024.
Despite its defensive issues, Santander’s power bat is one of the best. Maybe some clubs are willing to put up with sub-par defense or try to put Santander at first base or designated hitter. At the beginning of winter, MLBTR predicted that Santander could secure $80MM in guaranteed capital over four years.
For the Red Sox, they may look to Santander as an outfielder. Their corner infield and designated hitter combination is already crowded; Raphael Devers third, Triston Casas at first and Masataka Yoshida Primary option for designated hitter. There are rumors that the Red Sox want to sign a third baseman and move Devers to the other side of the diamond, which may require Casas or Yoshida to move.
In the outfield, the Red Sox have some good options, but they could bring Santander into the mix. Jaren Duran and Villiers Abreu Expected to feature at both positions, but both are left-handed hitters, with a clear split between the platoons. The lineup is already quite left-leaning, with Devers, Casas and Yoshida also attacking from the left. right-handed Rob Reeves Snyder Could help a little, but having Santander as an everyday option will help stabilize the team as a whole.
Saidan Rafaela Can also play in the outfield, but he is a glove-first option and can also play infield. Roman Anthony is one of the best prospects in the game, but he’s not yet 21 years old and has only 35 triple-A games of experience so far. He’s also a left-handed hitter, so even if he makes it to a major league program, he’ll exacerbate the club’s leanings in that direction.
The Red Sox have been looking for aggression this winter, with the rotation being the main focus, but adding Santander or another big bat to the lineup would obviously help as well. They are reportedly even willing to pay the luxury tax under the right circumstances. RosterResource currently projects the club’s tax bill to be $181 million, $60 million below next year’s base threshold of $241. That should give them enough wiggle room to sign Santander or another outfielder and a notable starting pitcher if they choose. The Red Sox have been linked to a variety of rotation options, including corbyn burns and Max Fried.
The Jays and Yankees have been linked to nearly every big-name free agent, though so far, both clubs have focused on Soto. In the coming days, they should turn around and gauge the market against Fried, Burns, Santander, Hernandez, etc. Alex Bregman and others, as these guys have been linked to the Yankees and Jaybirds in rumors this offseason.
Soto’s loss obviously leaves a huge hole in the Yankees outfield, so they’ll certainly be looking at options to bolster the team. Aaron Judge, Trent Grisham and Jason Dominguez. This could include the aforementioned free agents, but the Yankees have reportedly reached out to the Cubs to discuss a contract. Cody Bellinger trading.
The blue jays have George Springer and Dalton Washoe As their two most mature outfielders, Watson is recovering from shoulder surgery and may not be ready for Opening Day. they have Nathan Lukes, Joey Lopez Fido, Jonathan Klass and others on the roster, but those guys all have fairly limited major league experience.
Santander declined a qualifying offer from the Orioles at season’s end, so the club would receive draft compensation if he ends up signing with another team. It feels fairly inevitable now that they’ve agreed a deal with O’Neill, effectively replacing Santander’s outfield package. If Santander signs a contract worth more than $50MM, the O’s will receive a pick after the first round of the upcoming draft. Contracting clubs will also be penalized, depending on whether they are revenue sharing beneficiaries or pay the competitive balance levy in 2024.
