Entering the offseason, there was a large contingent of Orioles fans who were hopeful about the prospect of the team bringing back star outfielder Anthony Santander on a long-term free agent contract.

That never materialized, as the slugger exited Baltimore and inked a 5-year, $92.5 million deal with the division rival Blue Jays.

As it turns out, it seems like the Orioles were never really serious about bringing Santander back into the fold.

Matt Weyrich of the Baltimore Sun reported recently about Santander and his experience in the free agency process, and the info gleaned about the Orioles’ efforts with Santander is a bit of a surprise.

The Jays were reportedly the first team to reach out to Santander’s camp, offering a long-term deal with some deferred money attached that fit what the slugger was looking for.

As for the Orioles? “We heard nothing from Baltimore”, Santander said.

It wasn’t until Santander and his camp opened the possibility of signing on a short-term deal that the Orioles finally reached out and made contact.

It’s not clear what the Orioles specifically brought to the table, as Santander refused to make known the total dollar amount offered by Baltimore. He just said that the offer didn’t meet his needs or his expectations and at that point, he felt it was best for him to move on.

It seems like the Orioles were never serious about bringing back All Star outfielder Anthony Santander

Santander did mention that the Orioles’ offer was for fewer years than what he was looking for, and that “They did make an offer that we didn’t like”. However, it seems like after his initial meeting with Toronto, Santander knew where he was headed. “At some point, we opened the opportunity to a shorter deal…But the Blue Jays were always No. 1”.

Of course, by the time Santander had reportedly made it known that he was open to the idea of a shorter-term deal, the Orioles had already come to terms with former Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill. The O’s signed O’Neill to a three-year pact for just under $50 million, and that deal sealed up their outfield for 2025.

O’Neill, along with Rookie of the Year finalist Colton Cowser and former All Star Cedric Mullins should get the lion’s share of the playing time in Baltimore to start the year.

It’s possible that rookie Heston Kjerstad works his way into regular playing time as well, though the majority of his reps could come at the DH spot.

It’s tough to lose a player like Santander, even without considering his production in 2024. He was a long-time Orioles’ fan favorite and had the best year of his career in his final season in Baltimore.

With any luck, Santander can keep it rolling and have some success in Toronto.