The Toronto Blue Jays finally landed a high-profile free agent.
And it isn’t Pete Alonso.
Power-hitting outfielder Anthony Santander reached a five-year, $92.5 million contract with Toronto, his agency announced Monday. An opt-out clause and an escalated option provision could boost the contract’s value to six years and $110 million, the Beverly Hills Sports Council said.
The addition of Santander, who hit 44 home runs with the Baltimore Orioles last season, follows the deep-pocketed Jays’ failed pursuits of Shohei Ohtani last offseason and of Juan Soto, Corbin Burnes and Roki Sasaki this winter.
The switch-hitting Santander, 30, spent his first eight seasons with Baltimore and boasts three consecutive years with at least 28 home runs and 89 RBI. His 44 homers and 102 RBI in 2024 marked career highs, but Santander’s career on-base percentage is .307, and he is considered a below-average baserunner and defender.
It is unclear how adding Santander impacts the Jay’s pursuit of Alonso, whom Toronto has been linked to in recent days.
The Mets and Alonso, whose 226 home runs rank third in franchise history, have been at an impasse all offseason, with a reported three-year offer in the $70 million range not believed to be close to what the slugger is seeking.
The Mets appeared to begin pivoting from Alonso last week when they re-signed outfielder Jesse Winker to a one-year, $8 million contract and reached a two-year, $22 million pact with left-handed reliever A.J. Minter.
Alonso is coming off of his third consecutive All-Star season, but his 34 home runs, 88 RBI and .788 OPS all represented career lows, not including the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
Toronto, meanwhile, is at a crossroads after a disappointing 74-88 season last year and with homegrown stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette set to enter their walk years.
Guerrero, who is still just 25, has become the subject of trade speculation, but the Blue Jays hope to extend the Canadian-born first baseman, as the Daily News’ Bill Madden reported over the weekend.
Adding Alonso would likely mean the Blue Jays moving Guerrero back to third base or alternating the sluggers at first base and designated hitter.