In all likelihood, this is going to be one of the last pieces that we write about Anthony Santander as a site due to the severe lack of spending by ownership, or even slight hint that they might make a big move. However, due to recent buzz in circles around free agency surrounding a couple big names who remain unsigned in Jack Flaherty and Anthony Santander, perhaps the Nationals' chances to sign one of them have changed? Let's take a look.
According to recent reports, likely in an effort to press teams for urgency as we get closer by the day to Spring Training, both Anthony Santander, an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles who we have written about here at District on Deck numerous times, and righty Jack Flaherty, fresh off a World Series ring with the Los Angeles Dodgers, are both open to shorter-term deals for a higher AAV.
While a few of us here had once pegged Flaherty as being a potential target for the Nationals, with the signings of Trevor Williams and Michael Soroka already adding to a crowded crop of starting pitchers have made that possibility extremely unlikely. With some inconsistencies over the last couple of years and bouncing around a few teams with mixed results, it is not super surprising to me that teams were hesitant to dish out big-time money to the righty.
Santander, however, is a more curious case, as guys who post an OPS above .800 and can hit 40 or more homers and drive in 100 runs in a season do not exactly grow on trees. However, given the fact that he is subpar defensively and is coming off of a career-best season in a contract year, perhaps teams are optimistic about forking over a long-term deal to the switch-hitting outfielder.
In theory, a short-term, high AAV contract with a hitter like Santander should have the Nationals tripping over their own feet running to the table to make the offer. He is a perfect fit for this young team, and signing him to a 2 or 3-year deal with an opt-out would likely prevent him from blocking prospects that the club will bring up in the next couple of years. To me, signing Santander to this current team is likely the difference between the Nationals being competitive in the Wild Card hunt, or selling off at the deadline as they usually do.
While I do not think that ownership has any plans on spending legitimate money this offseason and giving out a contract like this, I am hoping for any sort of reason to be optimistic that it could actually happen. Guys like Santander, who are this talented and have a slow market for their services, do not come around very often, and if this club is serious about developing their young prospects, getting them some much-needed protection in the lineup for a couple years is definitely a way to do that.
Do you think the Nationals have any chance at all of signing Anthony Santander? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.