It's beginning to feel like the Atlanta Braves may never make an impact move this offseason. The team needs help in a few key areas including the outfield. There were already limited options remaining and another one of those potential fits is off the board.
Anthony Santander had a good season with the Orioles in 2024 despite his .235 average. He earned his first All-Star selection and slugged 25 doubles and 44 home runs with 102 RBI. His home run total ranked third in the majors last season and was the fifth most for a switch-hitter in a single season. This made him a coveted target for many contending teams this offseason.
He was never really on the Braves' radar but he was a potential fit simply because he could play the outfield and being a switch hitter certainly didn't hurt either. On Monday, the Toronto Blue Jays decided he was the right choice as both sides agreed to a five-year contract worth $92.5 million.
Anthony Santander's contract with Toronto may hurt the Braves' chances of adding an impact outfielder
The AAV on this contract is $18.5 million, which is on par with the offseason projections for Santander and includes $35 million deferred which apparently is becoming the norm now. The price isn't what is surprising about this deal. What surprised everyone was the amount of years he received from the Jays.
Santander's low on-base percentage and below-average defense are pretty glaring problems to consider. This has him on par with similar players who had low batting averages and on-base percentages during their careers. Below you'll see those players only combined for an 11.3 bWAR after they turned 30 years old. Santander turned 30 last October so that clock has started to tick for the corner outfielder.
Guys with similar slashlines to Anthony Santander don't particularly age well.
— Min Sub (Mitchell) (@MinSub4) January 20, 2025
Dave Kingman, Jay Bruce, and Khris Davis lead in HRs, but they had a combined 11.3 bWAR after their age-30 seasons. Only Kingman played past 34.
Santander turned 30 in Octhttps://t.co/hOr9OflJE0
That would be part of the reason Atlanta wouldn't have been keen on offering Santander a deal longer than two or three years. This is why it could complicate the team's potential pursuit of another talented switch-hitting outfielder. Jurickson Profar has been touted as a great option for the Braves despite his agent being the dreaded Scott Boras.
Profar would provide the Braves with good defense and a dependable bat in their lineup. However, Santander's deal being five years may have just put Profar out of Atlanta's comfort zone. Fangraphs has Profar projected to earn a three-year, $45 million contract after his impressive 2024 season.
Three years for Profar at $15MM AAV is a fair contract for the Curaçao native. He slashed .280/.380/.459 last season with 29 doubles, 24 home runs, 85 RBI, and a career-best 139 wRC+. He picked the right time to have one of the best seasons of his career.
However, if we know anything about Scott Boras, he will use the current market to get the most for his client. Santander getting five years almost certainly guarantees Profar will want a similar contract or at least to stretch beyond the three year deal that was expected for him. He is one of the best free agent outfield options remaining and the Braves could use a better option than they currently have available, but cost is becoming more and more of a hurdle.