Yankees could face competition from rival for outfielder if they miss out on Juan Soto

The Yankees have been connected to several players as possible backup options if they don’t bring back free agent slugger Juan Soto. One option is outfielder Anthony Santander.
But New York isn’t the only team with eyes on that free agent if they can’t land Soto. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported this week that the Blue Jays are also interested in Santander.
Santander has spent his entire eight-year career with the Baltimore Orioles and was an All-Star selection in 2024, hitting .235 with a .814 OPS, 44 home runs and 102 RBI.
NJ Advance Media’s Bob Klapisch recently named Santander as one of several players the Yankees could pivot to in a spread-the-money back-up plan.
“So prepare to say hello to the Plan B newcomers Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman are quietly considering: ace Corbin Burnes, third baseman Alex Bregman, first baseman Christian Walker and right fielder Anthony Santander,” Klapisch wrote last week.
NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller reported on Monday that the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers and Blue Jays pitched contract offers to Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, late last week.
This year with the Yankees, Soto, 26,earned his fourth All-Star nod and hit .288/.419/.569 over 157 games and had career highs in hits (156), run scored (128), home runs (41) and OPS+ (178).
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Bridget Hyland may be reached at [email protected].