Spring training is in full swing, but there are still a couple of free agent nuggets that haven't been claimed; Ervin Santana is the king of that crop. According to reports, he isn't budging much off his asking price of four years and $50 million, but the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles still seem interested in making a deal.
Orioles signing Ubaldo Jimenez a mistake?
Boston Globe writer Nick Carfardo wrote that the Jays are leaking word they're no longer interested, but the rumors are not to be trusted.
"Much like Ubaldo Jimenez, the big asking price (plus the loss of a draft pick) has never warranted the megadeal he's been demanding," Cafardo wrote. "Jimenez's deal is where Santana's ought to be - four years at about $50 million - which is why Santana remains unsigned. The Orioles still appear to be interested, even after signing Jimenez. The Jays say no, but don't believe it."
Were Blue Jays hot after Ubaldo, now stuck needing Santana?
Last season was one of the best of Santana's career, despite a 9-10 record. He 161 batters while posting a 3.24 ERA and 1.142 WHIP, the second-best mark of his nine-year career. While the Orioles did just ink Jimenez, they could probably use more veteran arms in their rotation to combat the steady stream of powerful lineups in the AL East.
The Blue Jays need reliable arms as well, but Santana's reputation as a fly-ball pitcher might be a red flag in Toronto's homer-happy ballpark.
There is also a sleeper candidate that has been dormant the past few weeks--the Seattle Mariners. They have been linked to Santana on-and-off this winter, and whiffed on bringing in outfielder Nelson Cruz.
Recent comments by their new star Robinson Cano could pressure them into making something else happen. "[Santana is] great," Cano said. "The guy's always pitching; he never gets hurt."
Obviously Cano values durability, having played in 159 games every season since 2007. Santana's made 30-plus starts in six of the last eight seasons as well, and would deepen a rotation with the potential to be special if prospect Taijuan Walker pans out.
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