The Toronto Blue Jays did their best Los Angeles Dodgers impression when they signed Anthony Santander this week, and not only by giving him a hefty salary.
On Monday, the Blue Jays signed Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million contract. However, the famous outfielder will not receive the most of the money for some time.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, Santander’s deal contains $61.75 million in deferred money. The current worth is $68.6 million, which is a bargain given the average annual value of $13.7 million.
The Dodgers, of course, popularized the deferred money structure when they signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract last offseason. Ohtani is expected to earn just $2 million per year while playing for the Dodgers. He will receive the remaining $680 million in monthly payments of $68 million between 2034 and 2043.
By postponing the majority of Ohtani’s salary, the Dodgers have increased their short-term spending flexibility while Ohtani remains on the roster. They’ve certainly done it again this offseason.
Santander, 30, has spent his whole Major League Baseball career with the Baltimore Orioles. He was an All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner in 2024, thanks to a 44-home run, 102-RBI season while batting only.235. The switch hitter has been extremely consistent, appearing in at least 152 games in each of the previous three seasons.
The Blue Jays won only 74 games last season and finished last in the AL East, but they have taken some steps to improve this winter. They also traded for a three-time Gold Glove Award winner last month. Santander’s contract structure should allow for future additions.
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