The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be aggressive this winter after a disappointing postseason in 2024. They could target outfielders who can bring more power to their lineup.
While making offseason predictions, theScore predicted that the Phillies would sign Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander in free agency.
"He also inks Anthony Santander, whose 44 home runs last season matched the output of outfielders Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, and Austin Hays," theScore wrote of Dave Dombrowski while predicting his many free agent moves. "Santander has some warts, and the defensive fit isn't perfect with Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber also on the roster, but Philadelphia needs to add to the team to get the most out of a title window."
Santander hit 44 home runs in 2024 and was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. Spotrac projects him to sign a five-year, $88 million deal in free agency. He can play either of the corner outfield spots.
The Phillies ranked 20th with a .610 OPS from center field last season. Signing Santander could allow them to move Brandon Marsh to center field full-time, allowing Santander to play left field. Even though Marsh struggled at the end of the year, he would still be an upgrade in center field. Adding Santander would ultimately give them three outfielders they can rely on every day.
The Phillies ranked 22nd in home runs from the right side of the plate. Santander is a switch hitter but could bring some power from that side of the dish. He hit 12 of his home runs as a right-handed hitter last year.
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