THE Cleveland Goalies enter the offseason with several questions that need to be answered, even after an ALCS appearance to close out the 2024 season.

One of those unknowns is how they will anchor their offense with a legitimate big league bat and a power threat in the middle of their lineup. There is an option on the free agent market, which is Baltimore Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com ranked Santander is the sixth-best free agent and has identified the Guardians as suitable to sign the 30-year-old slugger.

“Santander has been a solid player for several years, but he chose the right time to have his best career season. An All-Star for the first time this year, Santander set career highs with 44 home runs and 102 RBIs, while his .814 OPS average was his highest in a 162-game season. Even if he is destined for the Orioles, Santander is likely to end up elsewhere, as Baltimore is loaded with young outfield talent and a number of outfielders. clubs will be looking for a powerful corner outfielder,” Feinsand wrote.

Santander would be a dream addition for the Guardians, and it would also be a homecoming for the slugger that Cleveland originally signed as an international free agent in 2011. He would bring plenty of touch and power to the Guardians’ lineup , who desperately needs more of it. Santander would also finally be the answer to Cleveland’s right field woes, which have dominated their offseason questions over the past few seasons.

As with many power hitters, Santander carries swing-and-miss risk since he ranked in the 16th percentile in chase rate last season. However, it’s a risk Cleveland should be willing to take to get more pop in their lineup.

Santander won’t come cheap and will likely demand a lucrative deal from any organization interested in him. But the Guardians are in a position where they should feel comfortable spending money to solidify their position as legitimate World Series contenders.