With Santander going to Toronto, pressure builds on Boston to sign Bregman, and the Yankees watch

Yesterday, ex-Oriole slugger Anthony Santander signed with Toronto, a five-year, $92.5 million deal, with an opt-out after three years, plus "deferred money" and "escalators" - which I assume is newly laundered Bitcoin earmarked for drugs, hookers and police bribes, am I right?  

The switch-hitting Santander will protect Vlad Jr. in the Blue Jays' batting order - or vice-versa - and either way, it's not hard to imagine the pair replacing Judge/Soto as the AL's biggest one-two punch. Not only that, but the signing kicks Baltimore squarely in the nuts - pressure building on young Jackson Holliday - and adds a few more dollars to whatever deal Boston might cook up with Alex Bregman, the best free agent still on the market.

You know what? I'm done sweating Toronto. For the last decade, the Blue Jays have continually showcased new waves of talent, which come and go with nothing to show. Cavan Biggio? Teoscar Hernandez? Bo Bichette? Doesn't matter. They end up as Josh Donaldson, wandering CN Tower, looking to mock Tim Anderson. Something's wrong with that franchise. The hateful Vlad Jr. now even says he'd deign to play for the Yankees. WTF? They can't even sustain their hatred. Year after year, they are MLB's most disappointing team, and Santander won't save them.

But but BUT... it's Boston's turn. Bregman isn't the guy who'll match Rafael Devers in the batting order, but he could have a nice comeback season hitting in front of him, and he'd protect Devers in the field, allowing him to move to 1B. Every few years, Boston mounts a charge. This winter, they signed pitching, pitching, pitching, and if they go for defense - that is, if they haul in Bregman - 2025 might be such a season. Don't snicker. In this millennium, they own more world championships that we do. 

I say all this with the full understanding that the Death Barge is done, done, DONE with big free agents this winter. Somewhere out there is a homeless infielder who bats LH and was pretty good five years ago - insert your fave name here. Someday soon, he'll get an offer from Cooperstown Cashman, and the big letters on the contract will say "Scranton-Wilkes Barre," and our "infield opening" will move on from DJ v Oswald v Oswaldo. We'll go to Tampa with a modern version of Brian Roberts/Stephen Drew. Is Brigadoon Refsnyder available? 

We wanted the Yankees to keep going, to sign ONE MORE impact player, to break the chain of winters where they sign JUST ENOUGH to compete, but NOT ENOUGH to win it. Damn. The Dodgers just never quit. But we're aint them.