The Angels are being linked to almost every free agent this offseason, including one of the top remaining sluggers, Anthony Santander. Reports suggest the Angels and Blue Jays are in a close race to sign Santander, who hit 105 home runs over the past three seasons with the Orioles.
According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, while the Tigers have shown interest in Santander, the Blue Jays and Angels are considered the frontrunners. FanSided’s Robert Murray confirmed the Angels’ interest but did not go as far as calling them favorites. Nonetheless, it’s clear Santander is on their radar.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan has praised Santander for being a “welcome clubhouse presence,” a quality highly valued by Angels GM Perry Minasian. Minasian places great emphasis on character when evaluating players, making Passan’s endorsement particularly significant.
Both Passan and Kiley McDaniel agree Santander is likely to sign a deal below $100 million. McDaniel, who accurately projected Teoscar Hernández’s contract, predicts Santander will land a contract around three years, $69 million ($23M AAV). For a player of Santander’s caliber, such a deal would be a steal for a team like the Angels, who thrive on value acquisitions. However, competing financially with a team like the Blue Jays might prove challenging.
From a performance standpoint, Santander would be a natural fit. In 2024, he ranked 35th in offensive fWAR overall, 6th among switch hitters, and posted impressive stats, including 44 home runs (3rd in MLB), 102 RBIs (14th), and a .506 SLG (8th). He’s been remarkably durable, playing at least 152 games each of the past three seasons, and even has some experience at first base, adding versatility. The Angels, in need of power and slugging from a switch hitter, would have benefited greatly from his bat last season.
Critics may point to Santander’s flaws—his qualifying offer, low OBP, defensive struggles, and limited athleticism—but these issues are already reflected in his projected contract value. His power numbers, durability, and ability to draw walks outweigh these concerns. Additionally, while he chases pitches out of the zone, he doesn’t strike out excessively, making him a more reliable slugger.
Santander’s addition could dramatically enhance the Angels’ lineup. A potential batting order against right-handed pitchers might look like this:
- Soler (DH)
- Trout (CF)
- Neto (SS)
- Santander (RF)
- Ward (LF)
- Schanuel (1B)
- O’Hoppe (C)
- Newman (2B)
- Rengifo (3B)
The Angels, who claim to be “all-in” for 2025, need to back their words with action. While losing a draft pick and international pool money for Santander may be costly, it could be worth the risk to break their playoff drought. Missing out on him would be a significant setback, especially given his affordability compared to other sluggers like Pete Alonso. Santander seems like an ideal fit for Anaheim, and now is the time for the Angels to take a bold step forward.
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