The Toronto Blue Jays filled a major need Monday when they signed power-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year deal.
But even though Toronto desperately needed to make a splash after being rebuffed by many of their top targets already, was adding Santander the right move? That depends, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney.
Olney explained that while Santander fills a major need on the Blue Jays’ current roster, it could end up being a contract they’re looking to get out of in short time, depending on how things go the rest of the off-season.
“The micro level, they get a good player who clearly is an improvement over what they had. He’s a power hitter; he adds balance from the left side and he’s known as a good clubhouse guy,” Olney told TSN 1050 Toronto’s First Up Tuesday morning.
“That’s on the micro side. The macro side, I mean, it’s almost like we forecast this in our previous conversation. Like at some point, are they going to wind up overpaying Santander to a contract that in six or eight months they’ll be looking to get out of.”
A 30-year-old outfielder coming off a 44-homer season in 2024, Santander officially signed with the Jays Monday on a five-year, $92.5 million deal that includes an opt-out clause and a 2030 team option with escalators and deferred money.
According to Olney, it’s a deal that makes a lot more sense if star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is signed long-term.
“If they don’t sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr., okay, and they’re forced into a decision at some point in the next six months to trade him, what you’re going to have at the end of the year is potentially the same problem – not really having the core guys locked up – and now you have [Santander] signed to a long-term deal that clearly other teams don’t want to give him. The order of operations needs to go backwards."