Anthony Santander, a free agent outfielder who has spent his entire MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles since 2017, is drawing significant interest from several teams. However, a recent report by Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital indicates that the Orioles may not be the leading contender to retain him. In fact, they might not even hold the second-best offer on the table.
According to Gomez, the Toronto Blue Jays have emerged as the frontrunners for Santander, reportedly offering him a four-year deal worth $82 million. Other teams expressing interest include the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, New York Mets, and the Orioles themselves.
The Blue Jays appear to be a strong fit for Santander, as they aim to bolster their lineup around stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. This move comes after Toronto missed out on signing Juan Soto, making Santander a prime target to enhance their offensive firepower.
The Houston Astros are also a notable contender, particularly after creating an outfield vacancy by trading Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs. In return, the Astros acquired infielders Isaac Paredes and Cam Smith, as well as pitcher Hayden Wesneski. Additionally, Houston recently signed first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year, $60 million deal, solidifying their infield even as free agent Alex Bregman is unlikely to return.
Despite having the advantage of not needing to surrender draft picks to re-sign Santander, the Orioles seem hesitant to match the competitive offers from other teams, leaving the future of their long-time outfielder uncertain.
