The Toronto Blue Jays have made a significant addition to their roster by securing a five-year contract with outfielder Anthony Santander, valued at $92.5 million. This deal includes an opt-out clause and a team option for the year 2030, with potential escalators that may elevate the total contract value to as much as $110 million over six years, as reported by his representation, the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
This signing marks a notable victory for the Blue Jays, who pursued prominent players in the past, such as Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, before Soto ultimately joined the New York Mets. Additionally, the Blue Jays were in the competition for Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who has decided to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers instead.
Now, with Santander joining forces with established stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and George Springer, the Blue Jays are eager to improve after a disappointing 2024 season where they finished at the bottom of the AL East with a 74-88 record.
In the previous season with the Baltimore Orioles, Santander set new personal milestones, hitting 44 home runs, tallying 102 RBIs, and scoring 91 runs across 155 games. His performance earned him a spot on the AL All-Star team for the first time, and he finished the season with a batting average of .235 and a slugging percentage of .506.
Turning 30 in October, Santander made history as the first switch hitter in Major League Baseball since 2006 to hit 40 home runs in a single season. He also joined the ranks of only four switch hitters to hit at least 44 home runs in a season, alongside legends like Mickey Mantle, Lance Berkman, and Chipper Jones.
Santander played a crucial role in helping the Orioles secure a playoff berth for the second consecutive year, although they faced a first-round exit against the Kansas City Royals. Following the season, he received a qualifying offer, prompting the Orioles to obtain a compensatory pick in the upcoming amateur draft. In contrast, Toronto will forfeit their second-round pick and lose $500,000 from their international signing bonus pool for 2026.
To clear roster space for Santander, the Blue Jays designated left-hander Brandon Eisert for assignment. Santander began his professional career in July 2011 when he signed with the Cleveland Indians as an international free agent. He later joined the Baltimore Orioles during the Rule 5 draft in December 2016.
After a period of recovery from right elbow inflammation, Santander made his major league debut with the Orioles on August 18, 2017, though he appeared in just 13 games that season. His breakout came in 2022, where he logged a .240 batting average with 33 home runs and 89 RBIs over 152 games, contributing significantly to the Orioles’ resurgence, as they finished with an 83-79 record after a 110-loss season.
In 2023, Santander further solidified his status as a key player, achieving a .257 batting average with 28 home runs, 95 RBIs, and a career-high of 41 doubles, helping Baltimore clinch the AL East title with an impressive 101-61 record. However, the Orioles’ playoff journey ended abruptly as they were swept by the Texas Rangers in the AL Division Series.
