MLB analyst gives Blue Jays' improvement plan after $92,500,000 Anthony Santander acquisition

The Toronto Blue Jays have finally landed a high-profile free agent after signing Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract on Monday. The addition of the All-Star outfielder should give a massive boost to the Blue Jays clubhouse and the fanbase, as they had repeatedly failed to add a superstar free agent over the past two years.

Former MLB catcher Yonder Alonso believes the acquisition of Anthony Santander will go a long way in rebuilding the team chemistry in the Toronto Blue Jays dressing room after a disappointing campaign last year. Alonso feels Santander has the winning mentality to lead the Blue Jays, while the long duration of the contract will allow him to mentor young players coming up to the team in the near future.

Yonder Alonso played 10 seasons as a catcher in the major leagues. He currently works as an analyst for MLB Network. Alonso offered his thoughts on the impact Anthony Santander can have upon the Blue Jays on Monday evening.

"If I'm the Blue Jays, I'm as happy as it gets," he said. "I think it's a bargain. For a 30-year-old, this guy pulls every single day, 150-plus games. He's a switch-hitter, which helps a righty-heavy lineup of the Toronto Blue Jays. But when I look at this guy, I see much more than what he does inside the lines. I can see a guy who is bilingual. I can see a guy who can speak up in that clubhouse.

"I think it also helps the younger guys that are coming up," he added. "He understands what it takes to build a team, what it takes to build a winning formula. Toronto has that [now]. Getting a guy like this will not only help now as a 30-year-old, but even when he's 32-33, because we know he's going to post."

Santander is set to join a new team for the first time, having spent his entire eight-year major league career with the Baltimore Orioles.

"You're helping all these big studs": Yonder Alonso on the impact of Anthony Santander on Blue Jays lineup

Anthony Santander earned his maiden All-Star selection in 2024 (Image Source: Imagn)

Yonder Alonso expects Anthony Santander to help the Toronto Blue Jays become a playoff contender once again after finishing the 2024 campaign in last place of the American League East. He feels the switch-hitting outfielder will provide better balance to the Blue Jays besides adding protection for their sluggers like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.

"It just feels like the Toronto Blue Jays, in the last couple of years, that clubhouse has been a little bit fuddled," Alonso said. "No direction of where they're going. They get into these hot streaks; their offense goes a little bit cold. Now you bring this guy into the middle part of that; you're helping all these big studs. You're helping Guerrero; you're helping Bo Bichette."

Anthony Santander produced 44 home runs and 102 RBIs for the Baltimore Orioles last season.