The Washington Nationals are slowly waking up from a five-year slumber.
After winning the 2019 World Series, the organization swiftly dropped to the foot of the National League East and stayed there for four years.
However, there are signs that the Nationals may be poised to soon rejoin the race in the ultra-competitive division. A 107-loss campaign is now fading into memory, and the team moved out of last place in 2024.
Washington has assembled a young team of promise and now appears to be looking to enhance its youth with some veteran talent.
Jim Bowden of the Athletic sees the Nationals doing that in a big way this winter by signing outfielder Anthony Santander away from the neighboring Baltimore Orioles.
Spotrac currently projects the eight-year big-league veteran to receive a contract north of $88 million over five years. However, Bowden sees those numbers going much higher: seven years at $150.5 million.
Santander, whose eighth season with the Orioles came to an end when his team was swept by the Kansas City Royals in the American League Wild Card round, is coming off a career year with the American League East contender.
The recent 30-year-old, who was playing on a 1-year, $11.7 million deal, is poised to hit the free agent market after belting 44 home runs with 102 RBI and a .235 batting average this season. He earned his first All-Star nod in 2024 as the biggest bat in a heavy-hitting Orioles lineup that was squelched by the Royals in the playoffs.
Santander has been a consistent power threat over eight seasons in Baltimore, but the 44 homers represent a marked uptick in power production for a slugger whose previous career best was 33 round-trippers in 2022.
The Nationals could use Santander’s production either as an outfielder or as a designated hitter. He would instantly upgrade Washington at either position.
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