Over the past eight seasons, Anthony Santander has become a staple of the Orioles franchise, and if it were up to him, the soon-to-be free agent would be roaming right field at Camden Yards for many years to come.
According to Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore SunSantander “would like to stay (in Baltimore),” but the rising star is likely facing a hefty transfer fee after being voted an All-Star for the first time and finishing behind Aaron Judge in the battle for the AL home run crown.
Santander has more than paid back the Orioles, who took a risk by selecting him from Cleveland in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft, but the franchise and the switch-hitter have not yet entered into contract negotiations.
The Orioles have a relatively small payroll, currently ranked 22nd among MLB teams. Several of their players are still in the pre-arbitration phase or early years of arbitration. Several of the team’s most expensive players have a club option for 2025 that, if not exercised, could create room for a deal with Santander.
Anthony Santander reiterated his interest in a long-term contract extension with the Orioles as an upcoming FA. He said they have not had contract talks this season as he is focused on playing.
“I would like to stay here for the rest of my career, but it is not in my hands.”
— Matt Weyrich (@ByMattWeyrich) 8 August 2024
Before this breakthrough season, a costly contract extension seemed out of the question for Santander, but his performance in 2024 has made him one of the best outfielders in the sport. And elite outfielders get paid.
Even solid outfielders make a lot of money. Teoscar Hernandez, for example, entered free agency last fall with an OPS+ of 122 and a bWAR of 8.7 over the last three seasons and signed a one-year, $23.5 million deal with the Dodgers.
Similarly, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had an OPS+ of 116 and a bWAR of 6.0 in the three seasons prior to his three-year, $42 million deal with Arizona. Santander currently has an OPS+ of 126 for the 2022-24 season with 8.1 bWAR.
Even if Santander agrees to a team-friendly deal to stay in Baltimore, he could receive a contract worth around $18 million AAV. This would be one of the largest contracts in Orioles history. Whether the O’s, who have a deep pool of young outfielders working their way through the ranks, will offer Santander such a deal remains to be seen.
