The off-season is nearly two months old and one big question persists: Where is Anthony Santander going to end up?

The Toronto Blue Jays’ interest in the power-hitting outfield is well-known. However, <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2024/12/29/detroit-tigers-miss-alex-bregman-anthony-santander-interest/77300049007/?taid=67720ce51207bc000153929d&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported</a> that the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels are the favourites to sign him, while the Detroit Tigers also have an interest as well.
Funnily enough, both the Jays and the Tigers had a 55-63 record on Aug. 10. One team (spoiler: not the Blue Jays) finished with a 31-13 record to make the postseason, followed by a two-game series sweep of the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series. It makes sense that they’re interested in him, as they also have an interest in third baseman Alex Bregman.
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The Angels are a curious case though, as they finished with a 63-99 record in 2024 after losing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani last off-season. Regardless, they’ve already made a surprising move this off-season, signing former Blue Jay Yusei Kikuchi.
Santander declined a qualifying offer, meaning the team that signs him will lose a draft pick and some international money. For a team that is in dire need of a rebuild, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Angels to sign him. You can make the same case for the Blue Jays if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and/or Bo Bichette aren’t re-signed as quickly as possible.
If the Jays lose out on Santander to the Angels, it may be time to burn it all down.
<h2>Josh Bell signs with the Nationals</h2>
Another free agent is off the board, as first baseman Josh Bell signed a one-year deal worth $6 million.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Josh Bell to the Nationals. $6M
&mdash; Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1873568582820585553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last season, Bell played for the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks, with mediocre totals with the former and good results with the latter. Before the trade deadline, the 2023 National League pennant winners acquired the first baseman, with him slashing .279/.361/.436 with five home runs in 162 plate appearances.
Bell’s career-best season came in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he slashed .277/.367/.569 with 37 home runs in 613 plate appearances for a 135 wRC+ and a 3 fWAR. Since then, Bell has been a productive player, usually hitting 17 or more home runs aside from the pandemic-affected season.
<h2>The Cubs traded Matt Mervis to the Marlins for Vidal Bruján</h2>
Speaking of first basemen, the Chicago Cubs traded Matt Mervis to the Miami Marlins for Vidal Bruján.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Trade news: The Chicago Cubs are acquiring utilityman Vidal Bruján from the Miami Marlins for first baseman Matt Mervis, sources tell ESPN. The deal is done. Both are former top 100 prospects looking to carve out at-bats in a new location.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1873435077298016404?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Both players are former top prospects that haven’t quite lived up to the hype. In Triple-A during the 2023 season, Mervis hit 22 home runs in 441 plate appearances while slashing .282/.399/.533 for a 132 wRC+, but couldn’t translate that success to the big leagues.
In 2024, his numbers in Triple-A declined, slashing .235/.329/.434 with 15 home runs in 350 plate appearances for a 97 wRC+. He had a -15 wRC+ in 28 plate appearances for the Cubs. At least the Marlins have a spot open at first base for him.
As for Bruján, he slashed .22/.303/.319 with two home runs in 278 plate appearances last season for a 73 wRC+ with the Marlins. For his career, he’s slashing .189/.261/.270 with five home runs in 550 plate appearances.
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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.
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The off-season is nearly two months old and one big question persists: Where is Anthony Santander going to end up?



The Toronto Blue Jays’ interest in the power-hitting outfield is well-known. However, <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2024/12/29/detroit-tigers-miss-alex-bregman-anthony-santander-interest/77300049007/?taid=67720ce51207bc000153929d&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported</a> that the Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Angels are the favourites to sign him, while the Detroit Tigers also have an interest as well.

Funnily enough, both the Jays and the Tigers had a 55-63 record on Aug. 10. One team (spoiler: not the Blue Jays) finished with a 31-13 record to make the postseason, followed by a two-game series sweep of the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series. It makes sense that they’re interested in him, as they also have an interest in third baseman Alex Bregman.
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The Angels are a curious case though, as they finished with a 63-99 record in 2024 after losing two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani last off-season. Regardless, they’ve already made a surprising move this off-season, signing former Blue Jay Yusei Kikuchi.

Santander declined a qualifying offer, meaning the team that signs him will lose a draft pick and some international money. For a team that is in dire need of a rebuild, it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Angels to sign him. You can make the same case for the Blue Jays if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and/or Bo Bichette aren’t re-signed as quickly as possible.

If the Jays lose out on Santander to the Angels, it may be time to burn it all down.
<h2>Josh Bell signs with the Nationals</h2>
Another free agent is off the board, as first baseman Josh Bell signed a one-year deal worth $6 million.

https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1873568582820585553

Last season, Bell played for the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks, with mediocre totals with the former and good results with the latter. Before the trade deadline, the 2023 National League pennant winners acquired the first baseman, with him slashing .279/.361/.436 with five home runs in 162 plate appearances.

Bell’s career-best season came in 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he slashed .277/.367/.569 with 37 home runs in 613 plate appearances for a 135 wRC+ and a 3 fWAR. Since then, Bell has been a productive player, usually hitting 17 or more home runs aside from the pandemic-affected season.
<h2>The Cubs traded Matt Mervis to the Marlins for Vidal Bruján</h2>
Speaking of first basemen, the Chicago Cubs traded Matt Mervis to the Miami Marlins for Vidal Bruján.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1873435077298016404

&nbsp;

Both players are former top prospects that haven’t quite lived up to the hype. In Triple-A during the 2023 season, Mervis hit 22 home runs in 441 plate appearances while slashing .282/.399/.533 for a 132 wRC+, but couldn’t translate that success to the big leagues.

In 2024, his numbers in Triple-A declined, slashing .235/.329/.434 with 15 home runs in 350 plate appearances for a 97 wRC+. He had a -15 wRC+ in 28 plate appearances for the Cubs. At least the Marlins have a spot open at first base for him.

As for Bruján, he slashed .22/.303/.319 with two home runs in 278 plate appearances last season for a 73 wRC+ with the Marlins. For his career, he’s slashing .189/.261/.270 with five home runs in 550 plate appearances.

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As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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News and Notes: Angels and Blue Jays are seen as the front-runners to sign Anthony Santander

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