Frustration mounts as ex-Orioles slugger Anthony Santander lands with division rival

First reported by Jon Paul Morosi, Anthony Santander will remain in the American League East, just as a different bird. The former Orioles slugger will find himself in the Great White North with the Toronto Blue Jays next year and beyond. Ken Rosenthal reported the deal is for five years and $92.5 million in total value, featuring an opt out after the third year of the deal. Toronto can void the option with the addition of a sixth year, ballooning the total possible value of the contract to $110 million.

The Blue Jays have been the favorites to land Santander for much of the offseason. With the news breaking on Roki Sasaki landing with the Los Angeles Dodgers this past week, that likely opened up the Blue Jays to spend more time finishing a deal with Santander. Toronto had offered a deal to the former Orioles outfielder earlier in the offseason.

Spotrac had projected his market value to be in accordance with a five-year, $88 million pact entering this offseason; it seems the Jays went over market value to sign the 2024 All-Star. Santander is coming off the best season of his career and earned himself a long-term deal this winter, and he has finally received it.

Blue Jays sign Anthony Santander away from Orioles

Santander will add some more power to the Blue Jays lineup and will be able to protect Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

This move offers more depth to the Blue Jays' lineup, forcing opponents to pitch to one of the two sluggers. Santander smashed 44 home runs this past season while driving in 102 runs.

As for the Orioles' plan in the post-Santander era, Baltimore signed former Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill earlier in the winter with the expectation that Santander would not be returning for 2025. O'Neill hit 30 home runs last season for the Red Sox, and is coming off his best season since he received MVP votes as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.

While a return to Baltimore was never openly deemed impossible, it seemed as though the Orioles were set upon moving on from the All-Star when when they signed O'Neill. Baltimore likely did not want to waste time on Santander if he intended to leave anyways, putting themselves behind the eight ball on the winter. In recent years, the larger free agents have taken more time to sign a deal than some of the middle-tier players, a philosophy that's held up once again this winter.

Baltimore is determined to continue to expand their competitive window, and if they had tried to secure a deal with Santander, then some of the options on the market who could've replaced him at a more efficient rate would likely have signed prior to this decision. One of the hardest things in sports, as a fan, is to watch one of your favorite players leave, let alone to a division rival. Sometimes, moving on from those players can be the best for the organization.

Although Santander is leaving, his replacement is no slouch, and can generate some serious offense while bringing his Gold Glove-caliber defense to Camden Yards.