Anthony Santander has been linked to multiple teams this winter, and Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press adds two new names to that list in the Angels and Tigers. Interestingly, Petzold describes the Angels and Blue Jays as the “frontrunners” to sign Santander, while the Tigers view the hitter as something of a backup plan if he can’t sign. Alex Bregman.
With Juan Soto and now Teoscar Hernandez off the market, Santander stands out as the top free agent option left for teams in need of foreign help. He was reportedly seeking a five-year contract even before Hernandez re-signed with the Dodgers, and with the Yankees and Red Sox joining the Blue Jays, Angels, and Tigers as known players, there could be enough interest for Santander to stay that long. commitment despite entering his age 30 season.
Santander has hit .245/.312/.476 with 134 home runs in 2571 plate appearances since Opening Day 2020, which translates to a 119 wRC+. Santander saved his most productive season (3.3 fWAR) in his walk year, as he hit a career-best 44 homers and a .235/.308/.506 slash line in 665 PA for the Orioles. He had separation on both sides of the plate, and posted above-average numbers in terms of batter, hard-hit ball, strikeout and walk rates. The production earned Santander his first All-Star and Silver Slugger nods, and he even received a small runoff in AL MVP voting.
There are also clear cuts, as Santander is neither a fielder nor a baserunner, and his offense has more to do with his power production. That doesn’t bode well for hitting in homer-prone ballparks like Angel Stadium or Comerica Park, creating a Catch-22 for the Angels and Tigers as they look for much-needed pop for their lineups.
The Angels’ emergence as Santander’s favorite is no surprise, given how the Halos have been attacking the market for help. Los Angeles has already delivered Jorge Soler to town in a trade with the Braves, and added the likes of Travis d’Arnaud, Scott Kingeryagain Kevin Newman in the bench mix. At the end of the game, Yusei Kikuchi again Kyle Hendricks were signed to free agency deals.
Santander will require a greater commitment than any of these teams. MLB Trade Rumors ranked Santander ninth on our list of the top 50 free agents, and offered him a four-year, $80MM deal. RosterResource estimates that the Angels’ 2025 payroll will remain just under the $190MM mark, so Santander’s average $20MM annual fee would still bring the Halos under their $214.7MM payroll for the 2023 season. This would fit with owner Arte Moreno’s claim from October that the Angels would increase the money this winter, if not more than their 2023 cap hit.
If Santander was signed to take up his usual midfield role, he would join Mike Trout again Taylor Ward as beginners who play outside, with Jo Adell again Mickey Moniak going to a backup job. There have been reports that the Angels are exploring a trade to the outfield, which could remove Adell or Moniak, or left field could open up if Ward is not dealt. Trout may be moved to left field as a way to reduce wear and tear on his body as the Halos try to keep their star healthy. With the Angels’ starting lineup loaded with right-handed hitters, Santander’s ability to hit switches adds balance.
Ironically, Santander will also balance the Tigers’ line-up which is leaning against the other side. Detroit’s glut of left-handed hitting made the addition of at least one big righty bat a clear priority this winter. As Petzold noted, the signing of the Gleyber Torres he didn’t really face a lineup imbalance, as Torres would essentially replace another righty hitter Spencer Torkelson (as Colt Keith will move to first base to accommodate Torres at second base).
In Detroit, Santander’s move to right field will change Kerry Carpenter in DH duty against right-handed pitchers, with Torkelson or Matt Vierling then it may serve as the right-hand side of that DH group. Vierling could also serve as a regular third baseman in the event that the Tigers sign Santander and not Bregman, depending on how good the third baseman is. Jace Jung is getting used to pitching in the big leagues in his first full MLB season.
The Tigers’ payroll is pretty clear over time, and signing a big bat like Santander to a long-term deal would be the kind of win-now move many expected from Detroit after the team reached the ALDS last season. Potentially, the team could sign both Bregman and Santander, however it looks like they may be targeting one of the two players. Bregman’s expected contract is more than double what Santander is expecting, yet the Tigers may be more willing to pay his inflated value. While a gap remains between Detroit’s coveted offer and Bregman’s reported $200MM deal, Petzold writes that “the Tigers appear to be focused on Bregman.”
Because the Tigers are the recipient of revenue sharing, they will pay a small penalty to sign a player like Santander who rejected a qualifying offer — Detroit would have to give up its third-highest pick in the 2025 draft. Since the Angels are not a cash-sharing team and did not cross the luxury tax line last season, they will have to give up their second-highest pick in the 2025 draft and $500K in international bonus money. .
The Blue Jays will pay the same fine as the Angels, and Toronto may have more incentive than the Halos or Tigers to land a proven bat like Santander. The Jays have so far failed in every pursuit of their biggest free agent this offseason, and they desperately need offensive help for that possibility. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. again Bo BichetteLast season in Toronto.
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