The Toronto Blue Jays lastly landed a high-profile free agent.
And it isn’t Pete Alonso.
Energy-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander reached a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto, his company introduced Monday. An opt-out clause and an escalated possibility provision might enhance the contract’s worth to 6 years and $110 million, the Beverly Hills Sports activities Council mentioned.
The addition of Santander, who hit 44 residence runs with the Baltimore Orioles final season, follows the deep-pocketed Jays’ failed pursuits of Shohei Ohtani final offseason and of Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki this winter.
The switch-hitting Santander, 30, spent his first eight seasons with Baltimore and boasts three consecutive years with not less than 28 residence runs and 89 RBI. His 44 homers and 102 RBI in 2024 marked profession highs, however Santander’s profession on-base share is .307, and he’s thought of a below-average baserunner and defender.
It’s unclear how including Santander impacts the Jay’s pursuit of Alonso, whom Toronto has been linked to in latest days.
The Mets and Alonso, whose 226 residence runs rank third in franchise historical past, have been at an deadlock all offseason, with a reported three-year provide within the $70 million vary not believed to be near what the slugger is searching for.
The Mets appeared to start pivoting from Alonso final week after they re-signed outfielder Jesse Winker to a one-year, $8 million contract and reached a two-year, $22 million pact with left-handed reliever A.J. Minter.
Alonso is coming off of his third consecutive All-Star season, however his 34 residence runs, 88 RBI and .788 OPS all represented profession lows, not together with the COVID-shortened 2020 marketing campaign.
Toronto, in the meantime, is at a crossroads after a disappointing 74-88 season final 12 months and with homegrown stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette set to enter their stroll years.
Including Alonso would doubtless imply the Blue Jays shifting Guerrero again to 3rd base or alternating the sluggers at first base and designated hitter.
