Man, this is starting to get fun. Late last week, Jon Morosi of MLB Network linked the Washington Nationals to one of the bigger free agent bats on the market this winter, in Baltimore Orioles outfielder and designated hitter Anthony Santander.
Santander, who has been noted by many writers on this site as a potentially great fit for the Nationals in free agency, will certainly be one of the more coveted bats on the open market. He would add some much needed pop for a Nats' lineup that needs to make some significant moves to supplement their young talent.
This past season, he put up a .235/.308/.506 slash line with an .814 OPS to go along with a career-high 44 homers and 102 RBIs for the Beltway rival Orioles. He will likely never be a guy that hits for a high average, but will be a guy that should be a shoe-in to his 25+ homers and drive in 80+ RBIs. Those guys don't necessarily grow on trees, and would be a worthwhile signing for General Manager Mike Rizzo.
As for his fit on the Nats, it appears that he would likely slot in as a full-time Designated Hitter, while sparing the trio of Dylan Crews, Jacob Young, and James Wood in the outfield from time to time. If the team was to bring in Santander, they also could potentially move him to first base full-time, where the club also has a dire need for an upgrade.
.@jonmorosi ties free agent Anthony Santander to the Nationals:
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 8, 2024
"There's a lot of excitement now with the Washington Nationals and if they're able to get a veteran bat like Anthony Santander, their path back to the Postseason becomes a lot shorter..."#MLBNHotStove pic.twitter.com/Me4h8SKZcE
He has only played a handful of games at first base in his career, but since the position doesn't have doesn't require much of a learning curve, perhaps the Nats would want to put him at first in order to get more value from the signing overall. Santander is still only 30-years-old, and seems as if he is getting better, and he could be the veteran presence that the club is sorely lacking.
I would compare a potential signing of Anthony Santander to that of Jayson Werth in 2011, as both are accomplished veteran outfielders who will likely get just one chance to cash in on their success in free agency, and although he doesn't have the postseason success that Werth once had with the Phillies, he's a guy who has consistently made the playoffs with the Orioles, and could be leaned upon as a valuable resource for the young guys in the clubhouse.
Would you want the Nationals to sign Anthony Santander? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.