DONE DEAL: The Baltimore Orioles Officially Announce the Signing of the $70 Million Powerhouse Top Talented Superstar to a Five-Year Deal…

The Baltimore Orioles were reportedly in the mix to retain star outfielder Anthony Santander, but ultimately, he opted to sign a five-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, worth nearly $70 million when factoring in deferrals.

According to Santander, the Orioles made a three-year contract offer before his agreement with Toronto, but it was not to his liking. In an interview with The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Weyrich, Santander confirmed Baltimore’s interest, stating, “They made an offer that we didn’t like.” Instead, he secured a more lucrative long-term deal with the Blue Jays.

Initially, Santander entered the offseason seeking a longer contract, potentially worth over $100 million. However, as reported by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on January 11, he became open to shorter-term offers. The Royals and Angels also expressed interest in a potential deal before the Blue Jays secured his signature. It appears the Orioles made their offer during this later stage of negotiations.

The timing of Baltimore’s offer raises questions about their offseason strategy. After signing Tyler O’Neill, adding Santander would have created an outfield logjam, especially considering the later acquisitions of Dylan Carlson and Ramón Laureano. Had Santander signed, it might have prevented the Orioles from pursuing Laureano altogether.

This also brings up speculation about Heston Kjerstad’s role. If Santander had returned, it would have significantly reduced Kjerstad’s playing time and likely forced Baltimore’s hand in considering a trade. With Ryan O’Hearn in the first base/designated hitter mix, Kjerstad might have started the season in the minors, awaiting an opportunity that could arise due to injuries or other roster shifts.

In hindsight, did the Orioles make the right call? Only time will tell. The performances of O’Neill, Santander, and Kjerstad over the next few seasons will ultimately determine whether Baltimore should have taken a different approach. For now, fans can only hope the team’s decisions lead to success rather than regret.