Blue Jays draw focus to Anthony Santander's friendship with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez after $90,000,000 plus deal

The Toronto Blue Jays added much-needed firepower to the hitting order by signing All-Star outfielder Anthony Santander. The former Baltimore Orioles slugger was signed by the Blue Jays on Monday for a reported $92.5 million contract for five years.

Santander's deal also has an option for a sixth year, taking the deal to $110 million. Santander was drafted by the Orioles in 2016 and played for the AL East team before hitting free agency at the end of the 2024 season.

Although the 30-year-old will be repping new colors in the 2025 season, he already has a few friends on his new team, per the Blue Jays. An Instagram post by the Blue Jays handle highlighted Santander's friendship with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez.

"Tony already has friends on the side," read the caption on Blue Jays' post.

Santander is no stranger to sharing the clubhouse with Blue Jays second baseman Andres Gimenez as both of them were part of the Venezuelan national team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Although Santander has been an opponent for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s Blue Jays until the 2024 season, the duo seems to share a friendship, highlighted by the Instagram post.

Anthony Santander adds firepower to hitting order led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

The Blue Jays had an underwhelming 2024 season and with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. heading into the final year of his contract, Toronto needs to show ambitions of being a competitive franchise.

Anthony Santander's signing is just that. Santander is coming off a career-best 44 home run season with the Orioles and provides a massive boost to the lineup behind Guerrero Jr. But Santander could just be one of many pieces as MLB insider Jon Morosi believes the Blue Jays aren't done in the offseason.

Morosi said on MLB Hot Stove:

"The Blue Jays are one of the teams that we've heard connected to throughout this offseason and he gives them a lot of balance. ... I don't think they are totally done yet, it wouldn't surprise me if we see someone like a Jurickson Profar perhaps, land with the Blue Jays."

Several analysts expect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to head into free agency after next season. But if the Blue Jays can add star power to the roster and compete for a playoff spot, the All-Star slugger might end up signing an extension with the team.