Blue Jays urged to consider deal with projected $96 million rival

The Toronto Blue Jays will have to decide this winter whether or not to rebuild the roster.

Trade speculation already has picked up -- mainly about shortstop Bo Bichette -- with the postseason not even over yet. Once it ends, free agency and trade chatter will pick up even more than it already has.

Although the Blue Jays struggled in 2024, they still have a great core and could contend in 2025. Bichette will be a free agent after the 2025 season, and it's unclear if he will be back. But it may be worth one more run at a playoff spot.

Adding in free agency certainly could help, and the Blue Jays need another slugger. Because of this, FanSided's Zach Pressnell suggested that the Blue Jays could pursue Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander in free agency.

"The Blue Jays are going to need to bring in an outfielder," Pressnell said. "But they don't just need an outfielder, they need an impact bat out there. Toronto didn't have an outfielder with more than 50 games that had a batting average over .230 or an OPS+ over 100. Offensively, their outfielders were just plain bad, led by the severely overpaid George Springer.

"If they want to land an outfielder that does damage, Baltimore Orioles switch hitter, Anthony Santander is headed towards unrestricted free agency this Winter. Santander, 29, slashed .235/.308/.506 with 44 home runs and an OPS+ of 134. Toronto should be quite familiar with Santander, though. In 2024, Santander slashed .302/.339/.717 with six home runs in 13 games against the Blue Jays."

Santander will be expensive this winter and is projected to get a deal worth $96 million over five years, but he's worth it. It's not every day that you can bring in a slugger capable of slugger 44 home runs in a season.

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