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Outfielder Anthony Santander has signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, according to MLB Network’s Jon Paul Morosi and ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The deal includes a team option for a sixth year, raising the total value to $110 million, and provides Santander with the opportunity to opt out after three years. However, the Blue Jays can void the opt-out by exercising the sixth-year option, per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.

Santander, 30, joins Toronto after a career-best season with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024, where he hit 44 home runs—the second-most in the American League, trailing only Aaron Judge. His .235 batting average and .814 OPS reflected his impact as a power hitter, with his 44 homers ranking as the fifth-highest total ever by a switch-hitter in MLB history.

“Not only does Santander feature rare power for a switch-hitter, but his splits are also balanced in a way that few switch-hitters’ are,” noted analysts at Yahoo Sports, which ranked him No. 11 among the top 50 MLB free agents this offseason. “He’s a threat from both sides of the plate and strikes out less than the average hitter, allowing his power to play with regularity.”

During 2024, Santander excelled as a left-handed batter, hitting .239 with 32 home runs and an .822 OPS. From the right side, he added 12 homers with a .225 average and .793 OPS. His previous career high for home runs was 33 in 2022. Over eight seasons with Baltimore, Santander recorded 155 home runs, 155 doubles, and 435 RBIs, becoming a valuable asset after being acquired via the Rule 5 Draft in 2016.

Toronto has struggled to secure high-profile free agents in recent years, missing out on players like Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, and Corbin Burnes. Santander’s signing offers a much-needed boost to a team that finished 26th in home runs in 2024, with only Vladimir Guerrero Jr. surpassing 20 homers.

The addition of Santander addresses a glaring need for left-handed power in the Blue Jays’ lineup. While his defensive role remains unclear due to George Springer’s presence in right field, Santander is expected to play left field or serve as a designated hitter.

With franchise cornerstones Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette nearing free agency, Santander’s arrival provides a timely injection of talent for a team eager to break its postseason drought, which has persisted since 2016.

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