MLB insider lists Reds among Anthony Santander suitors, but price tag is enormous

As evidenced by the revolving door of outfielders that the Cincinnati Reds trotted out in 2024, the team could use some help in the outfield. Luckily, the free-agent market has a few options to patrol the grass at Great American Ball Park. Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) listed the Reds as a potential suitor for right fielder Anthony Santander, but the Cincinnati front office may balk at the hefty price tag.

Santander is coming off a magnificent walk-year, setting career highs in walks, RBI, and homers. He also made his first All-Star Game and helped keep the Baltimore Orioles steady as a veteran leader on a young squad. In short, he is everything the Reds need.

The Reds would be a great fit for slugger Anthony Santander, but the asking price will be steep

If the Reds were, say, the New York Yankees or even the Chiacgo Cubs, this would likely be a done deal. Cincinnati, though, keeps a pretty tight leash on its salaries, and Bowden estimates Santander could be in line for a payday to the tune of more than $22 million AAV.

Not since Joey Votto have the Reds offered such a lucrative deal. That’s a very different set of circumstances. Votto was coming off four straight seasons in which he led the NL in on-base percentage. He was a former MVP and the face of the franchise. Votto’s 10-year, $225 million deal in 2014 was as much a gesture of loyalty and good faith as it was a business venture.

Santander will benefit from a high-demand, low-supply market, which could lead to a bidding war. He made it clear that he would prefer to remain in Baltimore, but the Orioles seem unlikely to meet his pay expectations. The likelihood that he would jump to another small-market, spending-wary club like the Reds seems slim.

Santander is also likely looking for a long-term deal. He had the perfect season to earn a big-time contract, and he could get locked up for the rest of his career through this deal. The Reds may not want to commit their money over a long deal when there are several young players on their roster who will be heading into arbitration and, one would hope, contract talks.

Maybe it’s a new day in Cincinnati, though. It certainly seems that way with Terry Francona joining the club. If the Reds announce their presence as a contender, perhaps by extending a few of their young stars like the Orioles did, the conversation about their impact on free agency could change. Maybe that involves swooping in to nab Santander.

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