The Orioles are a very intriguing club to pay attention to this offseason. They are loaded with young stars and still have elite young players waiting in the wings for their opportunity. It’s almost as if they have more talent than they know what to do with, which could make them very aggressive in the trade market, and with new ownership, they’re also expected to finally spend.
Everything is on the table for the Orioles this offseason, with one of their most critical decisions, as far as their own free agents are concerned, being Anthony Santander. The outfielder is fresh off a season in which he blasted a career-high 44 homers, his third consecutive campaign with at least 28 homers. He’ll be a hot commodity this offseason, and because of the sheer amount of outfielders the Orioles have at their disposal, it’s likely they decide their financial resources could be put to better use elsewhere.
Baltimore’s pitching staff — not their offense — has been the issue, and Corbin Burnes is also set to test the open waters of free agency, expected to demand a deal well north of $200 million following four consecutive All-Star appearances. That should be the Orioles top priority this offseason, along with adding more pitching to pair with their elite offense. That doesn’t mean they won’t attempt to bring back Anthony Santander, but it does open the door for a team like the Braves, who could be looking to land a big name to join Michael Harris II and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the outfield.
Spotrac puts Santander’s market value at $17.7 million per season over five years for a total of $88 million. That’s a lengthy deal for a player who just turned 30 years old and whose value almost exclusively stems from his power. Santander isn’t a guy who is going to hit for average, and his defense leaves a lot to be desired.
The Braves very clearly have a need for another outfielder, and they could be in the market for multiple. The Jarred Kelenic experiment did not work in left field. There’s also very little chance Alex Anthopoulos chooses to bring back Adam Duvall, and there’s still the unknown of Ronald Acuña Jr., who may not be ready to play right field when he returns from his second ACL surgery.
Offense was the issue in Atlanta in 2024, which was shocking considering this was the same group that broke a slew of MLB records the year prior. Injuries played their part in the team’s struggles, but if the Braves trade one of Marcell Ozuna, Jorge Soler, or both, they will have to add another slugger. Anthony Santander fits that mold, and depending on the market, could be an option worth exploring this offseason.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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