2 AL West teams threaten Blue Jays' $82,000,000 All-Star pursuit, per MLB insider

The Toronto Blue Jays are looking to sign Anthony Santander, arguably the foremost slugger available in the free agent market. There are reportedly six teams pursuing Santander, with three from the American League supposedly leading the race for his services.

As per MLB insider Hector Gomez, the Toronto Blue Jays are the favorites to land the switch-hitting outfielder on a four-year, $82 million contract. He added that the Houston Astros are in the best position among the five others that are also in the running to sign Santander. Meanwhile, their AL West rivals, the Los Angeles Angels, have made a competitive offer to sign the 30-year-old free agent as well.

Gomez tweeted on Thursday that the Blue Jays are in prime position to sign the outfielder.

"The Blue Jays emerge now as the frontrunner in the Anthony Santander sweepstakes," he tweeted. "Angels, Tigers, Astros, Mets, and Orioles have shown interest in him.

"Astros are the biggest threats for the Blue Jays in the Anthony Santander sweepstakes, while the Angels have offered a similar offer to the Jays," he updated on the subject a few hours later.

Anthony Santander has spent his entire eight-year major league tenure with the Baltimore Orioles since making his debut in 2017.

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Anthony Santander makes a good fit for Blue Jays, Astros and Angels

Anthony Santander hit a career-high 44 home runs for the Orioles in 2024 (Image Source: Imagn)

The Toronto Blue Jays are desperately looking to rejuvenate the roster after a hugely disappointing 2024 campaign. They need to bolster their offense after finishing last in the American League East.

Meanwhile, the Houston Astros are in need of a top-notch slugger after trading away Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs last month. The Los Angeles Angels also have holes to fill in their outfield, while they also need to upgrade their lineup to be a playoff contender.

Therefore, Anthony Santander should fit right into the lineup of each team, especially as he's coming off an excellent 2024 season. He had agreed a one-year, $11.7 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles at the start of the season and posted career-best figures to further his reputation as a feared power hitter.

Santander batted .235/.308/.506 during the regular season with 71 extra-base hits, 44 home runs, 102 RBIs and an OPS+ of 134. He earned his first All-Star selection and won his first Silver Slugger award as well.