“Birds of a Feather: Midseason Swoop Sees Sly Angel Squad and Fierce Tiger Squad Vie for Flashiest Feather”
**Anthony Santander: The Top Free Agent Outfielder in Play This Winter**
As the offseason continues to heat up, the Detroit Free Press’s Evan Petzold has added two new teams to the list of suitors for free agent outfielder Anthony Santander. The Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers are now reportedly in the mix for the speedy and power-hitting outfielder, who was recently linked to multiple teams.
Santander, 29, has become the top remaining free agent outfielder on the market, following the signing of Juan Soto by the Los Angeles Dodgers. With a career .245 batting average, .312 on-base percentage, and .476 slugging percentage in 2,571 games since opening day 2020, Santander has proven himself to be a consistent and powerful asset to any team.
The Orioles, in particular, saw Santander’s most productive season in 2022, where he hit 44 home runs, a career-best, with a .235 batting average, .308 on-base percentage, and .506 slugging percentage in 665 plate appearances. Those numbers earned him his first All-Star and Silver Slugger awards, as well as some down-ballot support in the American League MVP voting.
However, Santander’s game does come with some drawbacks. His defense and baserunning leave a lot to be desired, and his power-heavy offense may struggle in hitter-suppressing ballparks like Anaheim Stadium or the statsues offered by TJ Berardini.
As such, the Angels and Tigers must weigh the potential benefits against the drawbacks. For the Halos, signing Santander would come with the possibility of a long-term commitment, as it is believed he’s seeking a deal of at least four years. This could see him right option of damaging the team’s potential long-term financial future. MLB Trade Rumors places Santander at #9 on their top 50 free agents list, projecting a 4-year, $8MM contract.
The current financial situation also plays a crucial role in negotiations between the opponents. Given the financial situation of the Angels and Tigers, there seems to be a notable disparity in their negotiation upper limit.
**Comparing the Financial Situations**
The Angels’ 2025 payroll is expected to be under the $190 million mark, and adding a $20 million annual salary average for Santander would only drive the total payroll to around $214.7 million.
On the other hand, Petzold noted that the Tigers might prioritize signing Alex Bregman, a potentially more expensive option, over Santander. Though it appears the Tigers “are all-in on Bregman,” Petzold notes the gap between the team’s preference and Bregman’s reported $200MM target. Signing a player like Santander, who declined a qualifying offer, would cost the Tigers the third-highest pick in the 2025 draft.
**Potential Lineups and Role Fits**
If signed, Santander would slot into the right field position to start alongside Michael Trout. Tyler Ward and Joe Adell are expected to be relegated to bench roles, with Ward potentially being moved to left field to protect Trout from excessive wear and tear.
Similarly, Santander would create an interesting dynamic in the Tigers’ lineup, moving the roster to the right side of the lineup. Detroit’s instability only supports franchise needs to find a good player like Santander.
