Both the New York Yankees and New York Mets are reportedly pursuing Juan Soto, but if he decides to leave New York, they may look to Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander as an alternative. Santander is coming off a career-best season, having earned his first All-Star selection, won a Silver Slugger Award, and finished 14th in American League MVP voting in 2024.
He set new personal records in OPS (.814), home runs (44), RBIs (102), and runs (91). As a 30-year-old outfielder, it makes sense for teams to wait on Soto’s decision before pursuing Santander.
If Soto chooses a different path, teams that missed out on him could quickly shift their attention to Santander as a backup option. With the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox also in the hunt for Soto, the Yankees and Mets might need to consider other offensive options.
In his rankings of top free agents ahead of the Winter Meetings, Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer placed Santander eighth, naming the Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Nationals as potential suitors.
Although Santander is tied to draft-pick compensation after rejecting a qualifying offer from the Orioles, this is unlikely to significantly hinder his market value.
Rymer notes that projections for Santander are around $20 million annually, with Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly suggesting a five-year, $101 million deal. While this is slightly above Spotrac’s market estimate of five years and about $89 million, a bidding war among large-market teams could push Santander’s next contract into nine figures.
