The Toronto Blue Jays are at a crossroads this offseason. After aggressively pursuing top free agents like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Juan Soto, along with other big names, the team has come up empty-handed. Now, they face a choice: they can either regroup and enter a rebuilding phase or seek to improve by acquiring talent from the remaining free agents and trade market. CBS Sports’ R.J. Anderson expects Toronto to opt for the latter, predicting they will sign Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander in free agency, poaching him from their American League East rival.
“Santander’s market seems a little too quiet for a 30-year-old switch-hitter coming off a 44-homer season. Such is life anymore for non-elite corner bats,” Anderson wrote. “I’m penciling in the Blue Jays here because they’ve been connected to several top free agents this winter, suggesting they’re at least somewhat open to making further additions. Plus, Toronto could certainly use an upgrade in the corner outfield or at DH.”
Adding Santander would be a significant boost for Toronto, particularly after missing out on Teoscar Hernández and Juan Soto. The outfielder had an impressive 44 home runs last season, establishing himself as one of baseball’s top power hitters. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the switch-hitter is expected to land a contract worth around $100 million, a figure that comfortably fits within the Blue Jays’ financial flexibility.
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