The Baltimore Orioles are an emerging powerhouse in the American League.
They won 101 games last year, the highest number in the junior circuit.
Even though they fell in the first round of the playoffs, they will be around for a while, as they have one of the most talented cores in the league.
Anthony Santander is a big part of that core, even though he will be a free agent after the 2024 campaign.
Player and team did well to avoid arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal worth $11.7 million on Thursday.
“Source: Anthony Santander, Orioles settle at $11.7 million, avoiding arbitration,” insider Robert Murray tweeted.
Source: Anthony Santander, Orioles settle at $11.7 million, avoiding arbitration.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 11, 2024
Santander is actually one of the most consistent sources of power in the Orioles lineup.
With 33 home runs in 2022 and 28 in 2023, he has a cool 61 in the last two seasons, with 184 runs batted in over that timeframe.
Orioles fans surely hope that the team can reach an extension agreement sometime before the start of the season.
The 29-year-old outfielder would do well in free agency, and that might be where he has his sights set.
In any case, retaining him would be huge for the Orioles as they enter a stage in their contention window in which they should be real competitors for a long time.
In 2023, Santander was a huge part of that success with 41 doubles, 28 homers, and a .797 OPS.
Yes, he strikes out a ton, but he consistently supplies a steady dose of power that the lineup needs.
For now, O’s fans can rest easy knowing that they are not going to arbitration with one of their best players.
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