Every day, it seems as though a partnership between the Toronto Blue Jays and outfielder Anthony Santander becomes more of a foregone conclusion.
It’s a prospective deal that makes a lot of sense. The Blue Jays are short on outfield power, and Santander hit 44 home runs last season, more than any outfielder not named Aaron Judge. But in the game of baseball, things rarely work out exactly the way we expect them to.
Sure, the Blue Jays need to sign someone, lest they risk angering superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and dissuading him from re-signing with the club. But there’s another switch-hitter on the open market that might make just as much sense for Toronto as Santander does.
Jurickson Profar, who made his first All-Star team in 2024 as a member of the San Diego Padres, remains unsigned as his former team looks to be unwilling to spend big this winter. That could open the door for Toronto to step in.
On Monday’s episode of Talkin’ Baseball, host Jake Storiale linked the Blue Jays as a strong fit for Profar if they don’t wind up signing Santander.
“The Blue Jays have been listed for a lot of these (players), because again, they’re trying to show out to Vladdy in what could potentially be his final year,” Storiale said. “I think a switch-hitting corner outfielder (makes sense).”
Profar, 31, has had an up-and-down career as a former superstar prospect in the Texas Rangers organization. His 2023 season with the Colorado Rockies was dreadful, leading him to take a $1 million contract last winter, but he was brilliant for the Padres in 2024.
With 3.6 bWAR, an .839 OPS, and a career-high 24 home runs, Profar showed he can be every bit the player he was promised as over a decade ago. Now, he just has to prove he is that player for the long haul.
Will he get that chance in Toronto? That’s a question to be answered in the coming weeks.
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