What seemed like an unexplained oddity, due to the waiting time at the Free Agency, Venezuelan slugger Anthony Santander, got a contract with Toronto Blue Jays.
One of the most coveted hitters left on the market, in the end he will stay in the American League East, but now with the Canadians.
After a path of great growth with the Baltimore Orioles, Santander had his best offensive year in the MLB, surpassing 40 home runs in a single season. Pending the medical examination, reports from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic indicate that the Venezuelan will play for five seasons and more than US$90 million.
Although he hit just .235 with a .308 on-base percentage, Santander slugged .506 with a career-high 44 home runs (second in the American League behind Aaron Judge) and 102 RBIs (ninth place).
Those 44 homers represent the fifth-highest total in a season for a switch-hitter, trailing only Mickey Mantle (54 in 1961, 52 in 1956), Lance Berkman (45 in 2006) and Chipper Jones (45 in 1999). Santander’s 155 career home runs place him among the top 50 of all time among switch-hitters and sixth among active players, only behind Dominicans Carlos Santana (324) and José Ramírez (255), Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor ( 248), the Cuban Yasmani Grandal (194) and Josh Bell (171).
Toronto was following the trail of several hitters, but without success in signing as was the case of Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernández. Now, with Santander, the Canadians have in their possession a left-handed hitter with strength and the ability to perform in the outfield.
“Santander can activate a buyout option after 2028, the fourth year of the deal, although the Blue Jays will have the ability to void that buyout option by picking up a club option for 2030,” according to MLB Trade Rumors.
