Over the last half-decade, the Philadelphia Phillies have secured major cornerstone pieces for the future of the franchise. The names that fans have come to love will be here for years to come. Hopefully, it is the same group of faces they'll remember when reminiscing their journey to a World Series title. In order for that to happen, some tweaks need to take place after another lost season.
A major concern for the Phillies in 2024 was their lack of offensive threat in the outfield. Nick Castellanos was their biggest contributor with 23 home runs, 86 RBI and a .742 OPS. He was one of only four MLB players to play in all 162 games last season, but the production was not up to expectations. There are options to replace that production while they last, but one name will not fit what the Phillies are looking for.
Reported contract demands give Phillies a good reason to steer clear of Anthony Santander
Former Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander is now a free agent and looking to cash in off his lone All-Star season in 2024. He's coming off a season in which he hit 44 home runs, drove in 102 runs and took home a Silver Slugger Award. The problem is Santander is looking for a longer commitment than the Phillies are likely keen on giving.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Santander is seeking a five-year deal. There is no confirmation of the amount, but Spotrac.com calculates his market value around $18 million annually. Santander is heading into his age 30 season, so a five-year commitment to another aging outfielder isn't the best idea.
Santander is an interesting case for Philadelphia. In his entire eight-year career in Baltimore, he's primarily been a fly-ball hitter with a high chase rate and a lower career hitter at .246. Oriole Park at Camden Yards also didn't do the Orioles slugger any favors by making the left field wall a cavernous 384 feet. Per Baseball Savant, Santander would have hit an expected eight more home runs if he played at Citizens Bank Park. Not a given, but a possible bright side.
The drum has to be beaten again that the Phillies are looking to get younger, and add more disciplined hitters to fill roster spots. Santander fills an outfield need for the short term, but with his swing-and-miss combined with the five-year contract demand, it's time to keep digging for another outfield solution.