A new trade idea sends Anthony Santander back to the Orioles with pitcher Chad Dallas for infielder Jordan Westburg. Toronto would love it.

The logic on Toronto's side is easy. Westburg would give the Blue Jays a legitimate option at second base, the club's most unsettled position.

Ernie Clement has been told he'll have to earn the job in 2027. Free agents like Brandon Lowe and Gleyber Torres would cost big money, and a trade avoids that.

And moving Santander would clear a contract that has gone badly wrong. He has appeared in just 54 games through two seasons in Toronto.

He hit .175 in 2025 before labrum surgery wiped out all of 2026. Three years remain on his five-year, $92.5 million deal.

So why would Baltimore bite? Nostalgia is the only obvious hook.

Anthony Santander's Orioles past is the only selling point

His best season came in Baltimore. He hit 44 homers with 102 RBIs for the Orioles in 2024, earning the deal that brought him to Toronto.

Craig Albernaz's club could argue a return home might revive him. That's a big bet on a player who hasn't stayed healthy since leaving.

Dallas is the sweetener. He's part of the crowded group competing for Toronto's bullpen spots next spring.

Toronto should absolutely make this call. But the Orioles would almost certainly demand real prospects or Toronto covering salary before taking on a contract this risky, and that's where the idea falls apart.

It's like offering your neighbour back the lawnmower he once owned, minus a few parts, in exchange for his brand-new snowblower.

Baltimore also has its own needs. Its starters ranked 17th in ERA in 2026, so pitching may matter more than a bat with question marks.

A more realistic version might have Toronto eating salary. Even then, Westburg would likely cost a meaningful prospect.

The idea is creative, and Ross Atkins needs creative answers this winter. Just don't expect Baltimore to hand over a starter for a contract Toronto is trying to unload.