The Toronto Blue Jays front office must have felt a huge sense of relief after finally landing their first major free-agent hitter of the offseason. Following 2.5 months of narrowly missing out on top targets, they signed slugging outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract, which was made official on Tuesday at Rogers Centre.
Fans, media, and the team alike seem to agree that Santander is an excellent addition for Toronto, at least for now. He addresses a significant need for the Blue Jays — offense. After the 2024 lineup ranked among the bottom eight in MLB for runs scored, securing a proven power bat was a priority for general manager Ross Atkins this winter.
“Anthony is about as good of a fit as we can find,” Atkins said at Tuesday’s press conference, per MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. “He’s a switch-hitter, puts the ball in the seats consistently, and brings the kind of nightly impact we were looking for. He’s a great addition to this lineup.”
MLB Insider Warns of Potential Risk Following Santander Signing
While Santander’s fit in Toronto seems clear, ESPN’s Buster Olney shared a more cautious outlook during an appearance on TSN 1050 Toronto’s First Up. He suggested the Blue Jays might regret giving the 30-year-old a sizable contract before addressing their most pressing offseason priority — extending Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
“It’s almost like we saw this coming,” Olney told hosts Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo. “In six to eight months, they could find themselves trying to get out of this contract.”
Such a scenario would be disastrous, with the team potentially looking to shed a newly signed deal just one season in. However, Olney argued the risk hinges on the Blue Jays’ ability to secure Guerrero’s long-term future.
“If they don’t extend Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and are forced to make a decision to trade him in the next six months, they could end up facing the same issues — lacking a true core and stuck with an older player on a long-term contract that other teams might not value,” Olney explained.
If the Blue Jays do lock down Guerrero, Santander provides the perfect protection in the lineup for their star slugger. But if Guerrero departs after 2025, Santander would remain the lone proven power hitter, a role that might not justify his contract over the long haul. In that case, the team could be left with a challenging contract to move.
Ultimately, the success of Santander’s signing — and the Blue Jays’ future — hinges on their ability to secure Guerrero’s extension. Without it, Olney’s prediction of trouble might come true.
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