![\"Anthony](\"https:\/\/www.baltimoresun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/TBS-L-Santanderjpg.jpg?w=1020\")
<\/p>\nBALTIMORE – During his eight years with Baltimore, Anthony Santander played under two regimes, endured a painful rebuild and saw the ballclub sold.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Throughout it all, Santander became one of baseball’s best power hitters, made an All-Star Game and earned the lucrative contract he received Monday.<\/p>\n
Santander, a fan-favorite, has officially played his final game in an Orioles uniform.<\/p>\n
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed the switch-hitting slugger to a five-year, $92.5 million contract with a club option for the 2030 season that can increase the total guarantee to $110 million, his agency Beverly Hills Sports Council announced on social media.<\/p>\n
Santander, who joined Baltimore as a Rule 5 draft pick in 2016, blasted a career-high 44 homers in 2024 – perfect timing for the 30-year-old switch hitter ahead of hitting the free agent market for the first time this offseason.<\/p>\n
After overcoming a series of injuries that plagued him early in his career, Santander averaged 35 home runs per year over the past three seasons to emerge as a potent middle-of-the-order hitter for a young ballclub bursting out of a long-term rebuild.<\/p>\n
He finishes his Baltimore tenure ranked 13th in Orioles history in home runs (155), 15th in slugging percentage (.469), and 22nd in RBIs (435) and total bases (1,327).<\/p>\n
Since he made his MLB debut in 2017, no Orioles player appeared in more games, hit more homers, collected more doubles or drove in more RBIs than Santander.<\/p>\n
He also grew into a veteran leader in their clubhouse and earned a reputation for bringing a magnetic personality to the field. Santander’s departure created a hole in the Orioles’ outfield, which they filled earlier this offseason by signing Tyler O’Neill for $49.5 million over three years with a player option after 2025.<\/p>\n
Recently graduated top prospect Heston Kjerstad is expected to factor into their plans as well alongside reigning American League Rookie of the Year Award runner-up Colton Cowser and defensive stalwart Cedric Mullins in the outfield.<\/p>\n
With Santander signing for at least $50 million, the Orioles will receive a compensation pick between the first and second rounds of this year’s MLB draft – just as they will for right-hander Corbin Burnes signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks.<\/p>\n
The selections will fall in the early 30s. It took nearly the entire offseason for Santander, one of the top sluggers available in free agency, to land his new deal.<\/p>\n
While the starting pitching market moved quickly, Juan Soto’s 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets was the only contract for at least $50 million signed by an outfielder until Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez re-signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a three-year, $66 million on Jan. 3.<\/p>\n
The Blue Jays, who had reportedly fallen short in their pursuits for several high-end free agents this winter including Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki over the weekend, finally landed the star they had been seeking with a significant investment in Santander.<\/p>\n
Toronto missed the playoffs for first the first time in three years last season and has reached a pivotal point in its competitive window with stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette set to hit free agency next winter.<\/p>\n
Santander won’t have to wait long to face his former team.<\/p>\n
The Orioles open the 2025 season with a three-game series in Toronto that begins March 26. His return to Baltimore is scheduled for July 28 when the Blue Jays travel to Baltimore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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