With Juan Soto now off the market, attention is shifting to other highly sought-after outfielders, including Anthony Santander. According to MLB Insider Jon Morosi, the switch-hitting slugger is reportedly drawing interest from a trio of American League East clubs – the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees – all of whom are looking to add some punch to their lineups. Santander’s impressive power numbers, including 44 home runs this season (the fifth-most by a switch-hitter in MLB history), make him an attractive target for teams seeking to bolster their offense.
AL East Teams Eyeing Anthony Santander
The Blue Jays have George Springer and Daulton Varsho as the two established big leaguers in their outfield. However, Springer is now 35 as his wRC+ has hit a decline for five consecutive years. Even his presence in right field could be a roadblock to a Santander signing, though they could form a right field/DH combo to make it work. Santander has also started 75 games in left field during his career – half of them as recently as 2022 – opening another possibility. Varsho underwent shoulder surgery in September and it’s certain he will miss the opening of the 2025 season. There are internal options including Nathan Lukes, Joey Loperfido, Jonatan Clase, Davis Schneider, Addison Barger and Steward Berroa as outfield options on the 40-man roster.
Either way, the Blue Jays are in the market for a bat, making Santander a potential fit. They are also in the mix for Teoscar Hernández, though they prefer the switch-hitting Santander.
Yankees Need to Replace Soto’s Bat
With JSoto now a member of the New York Mets, the Yankees are likely to explore alternative options to bolster their lineup. One potential target is Santander, who could provide a powerful bat behind Aaron Judge in the outfield. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Yankees were one of eight teams to express interest in Santander at the beginning of November. This early interest suggests that the Yankees may have already identified Santander as a viable alternative to Soto. If signed, Santander could help mitigate the loss of Soto and provide a formidable one-two punch alongside Judge in the Yankees’ lineup.
Red Sox Interested in Two Outfielders
The Red Sox have Hernández in their sights for a second offseason in a row. They made the outfielder a multi-year offer last winter, but he signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The decision paid off for Hernandez, who now has a World Series ring. While his right-handed bat could help Boston’s lineup, the Dodgers have stated that re-signing him is their priority this offseason. If Hernández returns to Los Angeles, the Red Sox may consider alternative options like Santander. It seems unlikely he will reunite with the Baltimroe Orioles now that they’ve signed Tyler O’Neill to a three-year contract.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Boston’s interest in Hernández remains strong, which could impact their pursuit of Santander.
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