The Baltimore Orioles face a challenging offseason as they approach free agency with two of their brightest stars, Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander, likely to attract significant interest from other teams. While the team would ideally retain both players, securing their combined talent at an estimated $300 million appears unlikely. If forced to choose, the Orioles are expected to prioritize Burnes, making Santander’s departure a probable outcome.
Santander, coming off a career-best season, is poised to be one of the most sought-after sluggers in the market. Certain destinations could pose a greater challenge for Baltimore if Santander leaves, particularly if he signs with a rival within their division. The Toronto Blue Jays, for instance, have emerged as potential contenders for Juan Soto. However, should they fail to secure Soto, they might redirect their attention to Santander, who offers a less expensive—albeit less dominant—alternative.
MLB.com’s Manny Randhawa has speculated on this possibility, noting that Santander would be a significant addition to Toronto’s lineup, joining stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. Santander’s presence could bolster the Blue Jays’ offense, but it would require Bichette to return to form and Guerrero to maintain his elite performance levels.
Santander’s performance speaks for itself, with 44 home runs last season and 105 over the past three years, cementing his status as one of baseball’s most dangerous power hitters. Seeing him suit up for Toronto and deliver home runs against Baltimore would be a worst-case scenario for the Orioles, who now face the possibility of losing one of their biggest offensive threats to a divisional rival.
