NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Toronto Blue Jays must make a move to stay competitive in the American League. While other teams are adding, the Blue Jays are standing still just watching. It’s time to go on the attack and that means making a mover for free agent Anthony Santander.
Pairing Santander in a lineup that also has Vlad Guerrero Jr. could have the Blue Jays as a team to watch entering the 2025 MLB season. While not the equivalent of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, this move will make them one heck of an offensive force in 2025. But will the Blue Jays make a move or sit back and watch a team like the Yankees or the Chicago Cubs swoop in and steal the power hitter away?
The Blue Jays finished last in the American League East at 74-88 while looking up at the Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and even the Tampa Bay Rays. This cannot happen again. Not just the losing aspect but they have to produce off the field if they want to retain their All-Star players in the coming seasons.
By adding Santander, the front office will show current and future players how serious they are about being contenders for the next season and beyond. The Blue Jays must find a way to be competitive before the foundation falls apart.
A team in dire need of an outfielder and offensive pop in the lineup cannot afford to let a player like Santander fall to a rival team. At this point, they must do whatever it takes to keep him from resigning with his current team who also plays in the AL East. The Blue Jays don’t have to mirror the Yanks but they must start to look at this business as the cutthroat one that it is.
There is still a good chance Baltimore will resign him and continue their accession. Last season, Santander clobbered 44 home runs to go along with 102 RBIs. For the Bluejays, they were led by Guerrero and his 30 home runs and 103 RBIs but injuries sort of decimated the Blue Jays lineup.
Is it the money that the team is worried about? According to Spotrac, Anthony Santander is valued at $17M per. That’s money worth spending also considering that he’s just 30 years old and still in a position to be a top player in his prime. While the Blue Jays could use a few arms in the starting rotation, adding a force like Santander is still priority No. 1.
If Bo Bichette and George Springer can avoid any serious injuries in 2025, the Toronto Blue Jays can make a climb up the standings. The top half of their lineup could feature the bats of Springer, Bichette, Guerrero, and Santander. That’s a force to be reckoned with on a nightly basis for any pitcher.
