These Teams Reportedly ‘Frontrunners’ To Sign Rumored Red Sox Target

The Red Sox missed out on Juan Soto and Teoscar Hernández, but there still is another power-hitting outfielder up for grabs in MLB free agency.

Anthony Santander remains without a new contract with the calendar set to flip to 2025. Santander is coming off a career season in Baltimore, where he set personal bests in home runs (44), RBIs (102) and games played (155). The 30-year-old reportedly is seeking a contract longer than the three-year deal Hernández recently signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

What team will give Santander the contract he covets? The Detroit Free Press’ Evan Petzold provided insight in a column published Sunday.

“The Tigers have interest in right fielder Anthony Santander, but the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels are the frontrunners for his services,” Petzold wrote.

The Blue Jays make sense as a Santander suitor, as they reportedly made a very serious run at Soto. The Halos, meanwhile, could use another big bat to complement franchise cornerstone Mike Trout.

Petzold’s report indicated Santander won’t land with the Red Sox, who reportedly showed “strong interest” in the 2024 All-Star after they came up short in the Soto sweepstakes. Boston still needs a right-handed bat to balance out its lineup, but the club apparently will look elsewhere to find that solution.