The Toronto Blue Jays made it all the way to the World Series but lost in Game 7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Given how close Toronto was, the Blue Jays are expected to be active this offseason in adding more talent to their roster. Blue Jays analyst Graeme Wallace of BlueJays Nation urged Toronto to sign switch-hitting slugger Carlos Santana to replace Ty France.
“If he’s still interested in playing, this could be an intriguing fit,” Wallace wrote. “The Jays have preferred to have a secondary first baseman/bench bat on their roster in recent years. And Santana, a switch-hitter with considerable power and a 2024 Gold Glove award winner, could be a match.
“He’s hit 335 home runs over his career and has enjoyed a late-career surge before a drop-off last season. He can still play solid defence. Evidenced by his 2025 nomination. And the notorious Blue Jays killer might be better suited on the team versus on the opposite side.”
Santana will be 40 years old in April and has notoriously been a Blue Jays killer in his career. He spent last season with the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago Cubs and is still a solid defensive first baseman who can back up Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and also give Toronto a bat off the bench.
Santana hit .219 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs last season.
Santana Has Been a Blue Jays Killer
Adding Santana would also be a welcome sight for Blue Jays fans, given the fact that he has killed Toronto in his career.
The veteran slugger has hit well throughout his career against Toronto. In 92 career games against Toronto, Santana is hitting .279 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs, and 62 runs scored.
If France does sign elsewhere in free agency, Toronto could look to sign a veteran first baseman to back up Guerrero Jr., who’s shown to be very durable and play nearly every day.
At this point in Santana’s career, he’s more of a backup. He also would fill a key role off the Blue Jays’ bench. The veteran could relieve Guerrero Jr. if he needs a day off or DHs, while also being a late-inning bench bat if needed.
Santana also wouldn’t cost a lot, which would make it a fine low-risk move.
Ross Atkins Discusses Offseason
Toronto lost in the World Series and was two outs away from winning it all.
Given how close the Blue Jays were, Toronto should be active this offseason. Heading into free agency, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said the team has started dialogue with plenty of free agents and trade talks.
“I love this time of the year,” Atkins said. “It’s so efficient. It’s an extremely productive time to have this many people in the room, on the agent side and on the team side, to start to cut to the chase a little bit and learn where the priorities are and where the opportunities may be. But there’s still a lot of dialogue and work to happen.”
The Blue Jays, however, do have some key free agents like Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and France.
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