The New York Yankees’ lineup suffered greatly when Juan Soto confirmed his deal with the New York Mets. They’ve tried to replace his production by signing Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt, but the Yankees still need another bat in the center of their lineup.
Anthony Santander is one of the few remaining possibilities on the market that may provide the Yankees with power. Santander isn’t as good a pure hitter as Soto, but he’s a switch-hitter coming off a 44-home-run season.
His market is lively, but he continues in it for the time being. That might be owing to his deal potentially being expensive, with Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report forecasting he will land a four-year
$80 million transaction.What is there to enjoy about Anthony Santander? He is a switch-hitting slugger who struck out only 129 times this season. That’s an easy sale.
“On the other hand, Santander has a qualifying offer attached to him, so signing him will necessitate giving up draft compensation for any team other than the current Orioles.” True, he doesn’t strike out as much as most power hitters, but he also doesn’t walk as much as most sluggers, with 58 last year setting a career best. On January 6, Kelly noted, “He has just a.307 career on-base percentage.”
Yankees Have Reported Interest in Santander.
After missing out on other MLB free agents, the New York Yankees’ best bet could be to sign Santander.
His outfield defense is questionable, and while the Yankees are working to improve it, his bat more than compensates.
There is also interest. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Yankees are one of a few teams associated with the Silver Slugger. “The Red Sox, Yankees, Angels and Tigers are among the other clubs that have been connected to the 30-year-old Santander, who made his first All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award in 2024.” Feinsand wrote on January 3.
According to Erik Boland of Newsday, Santander is “intrigued” by the prospect of playing for the Yankees, therefore their interest is mutual.
“Free-agent outfielder Anthony Santander, who blasted 44 home runs for the Orioles last season and did his share of damage against Yankee pitchers over his eight years in Baltimore, is a guy of interest, and it appears to be mutual. Santander is thought to be fascinated by the prospect of becoming a Yankee,” Boland wrote in December. Santander Could Land With Division Rival.
If the New York Yankees continue to keep Santander on the market, he will eventually be signed by another team, which might happen soon.
The Yankees make sense as a landing destination, and there are
It’s possible he ends up in the Bronx.However, if he does not, some believe he will sign with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted this, noting that his market has been “quiet.”
“The Santander market has been unusually quiet, but all indications are that he will land up on a non-contending team and sign a long-term contract.
“There is a lot of buzz in the industry about the Blue Jays being all-in on him, and they definitely need his 44-home run power in between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette in their lineup,” Bowden said on Saturday, January 6.If his market is quiet, as Bowden said, the Yankees may increase their interest and bring him to New York.
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