This AL foe was reportedly in on Anthony Santander before he signed with the Blue Jays

The Kansas City Royal reportedly offered Anthony Santander a impressive contract after he had committed to Toronto.

Wild Card Series - Kansas City Royals v Baltimore Orioles
Wild Card Series - Kansas City Royals v Baltimore Orioles | Greg Fiume/GettyImages

The Toronto Blue Jays jump-started a sleepy offseason by signing former Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract in January in a move that had plenty of benefits for the Jays, as it boosted their roster while weakening Baltimore’s.

And, according to new reporting from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the signing also changed the trajectory of the offseason for an American League team coming off a posteason berth.

In a story for The Athletic (subscription required), Rosenthal writes that the Kansas City Royals offered Santander a three-year, $66 million contract that included an opt-out after the second year and the chance for deferrals.

“The Kansas City Royals made Santander a three-year offer and increased it to $66 million, according to sources briefed on the talks. But by the time they presented Santander with their enhanced proposal, which included an opt-out after the second year and deferrals that were still being negotiated, he had committed to the Blue Jays,” writes Rosenthal.

Santander’s reported deal with the Royals would have offered a higher average annual value than his deal with the Blue Jays (in large part because of its deferrals) but his total payout with the Royals would have been lower than his contract with the Blue Jays.

While those deferrals have impacted Santander’s earnings in the present, it gives the Blue Jays more flexibility to build a quality team around him. Toronto already used that flexibility to sign Max Scherzer to a one-year deal last week and could use it if they end up signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette to an extension in the spring.

Instead of signing Santander, the Royals then pivoted to sign right-handed reliever Carlos Estévez on a two-year, $22.2 million contract — a reliever the Blue Jays were interested in.

While the Santander signing was already a boon for the Blue Jays, this new development just adds another layer to the trade. The Royals are coming off a 86-76 season and ALDS berth, and will likely be in the thick of the American League Wild Card race with the Blue Jays.

Had they signed Santander, he likely would have slotted into their lineup around Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez. Instead, he’ll be around George Springer, Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (and potentially Pete Alonso) as the Blue Jays look to rebound from a disappointed 2024 season. 

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