The Cleveland Guardians made a splash over the weekend by signing first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year deal value $12M, bringing the long-time Cleveland staple again into the fold for the third time in his profession.
It sounds just like the one-time All-Star turned down a extra profitable contract to return to Cleveland. In line with a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners prolonged a proposal to Santana that got here with extra assured cash than the one he landed in Cleveland. Rosenthal additionally cited the Yankees, Mets, Tigers, Diamondbacks, Rangers and Padres amongst golf equipment that had curiosity within the switch-hitter earlier than he in the end landed in Cleveland.
Relating to Seattle’s supply, Rosenthal specifies that not solely did the deal include extra assured cash, however it concerned a participant possibility for the 2026 season, permitting Santana to both decide out and return to free company or stay with the membership. It’s considerably stunning to listen to {that a} membership was prepared to ensure a second assured yr to Santana, who will rejoice his thirty ninth birthday in early April. Rosenthal describes the Mariners as Santana’s “preliminary precedence” till the Guardians realized that they might commerce Josh Naylor to a different Santana suitor, the Diamondbacks. At that time, the Guardians provided Santana (who had coincidentally simply offered his Cleveland space residence) the one-year deal he went on to signal.
The Mariners briefly acquired Santana from the Phillies through the 2018-19 offseason however flipped him to Cleveland shortly thereafter, earlier than he ever suited up for the membership. He finally returned to the group in 2022 after being traded there by the Royals, and this time his keep lasted 79 video games. In 294 journeys to the plate for Seattle, Santana hit .192/.293/.400. Regardless of that sub-Mendoza Line batting common, Santana’s efficiency was really good for an above-average 103 wRC+ due to a robust 11.9% stroll charge and the 15 residence runs he clobbered down the stretch for the membership.
That half-season stint evidently made sufficient of an impression with the Mariners that they have been excited about a reunion as they looked for first base assist. The Mariners have been reportedly pursuing a reunion with both Santana or Justin Turner at first base. Turner remains to be accessible, although it’s unclear whether or not that curiosity on Seattle’s finish has persevered as the primary base market has shifted in current days. Of the six groups moreover Cleveland that Rosenthal famous had curiosity in Santana’s companies, three of them have discovered options within the days since: the Rangers changed Nathaniel Lowe with Joc Pederson, the Yankees signed Paul Goldschmidt and the Diamondbacks traded for Naylor and opened the door for Santana to re-sign in Cleveland.
For the Mariners, Mets and Padres, there’s nonetheless a lot of fascinating first base choices accessible. Turner has been a reliably above common hitter 11 consecutive seasons however celebrated his fortieth birthday in November, a actuality that would give some groups pause about committing to him as a daily possibility if they will’t supply vital time at DH as properly. Pete Alonso is after all the highest free agent accessible at first base, although barring a sudden change in plans by the Padres or Mariners it appears unlikely he would match the budgets rumored to be in play for San Diego and Seattle. Anthony Rizzo, Mark Canha, Josh Bell and Yuli Gurriel are amongst a lot of veteran choices on the place who might seemingly be had on a low-cost deal, and the commerce market affords the likelihood that the Giants might half methods with LaMonte Wade Jr. or maybe even a cope with the Rays involving Yandy Diaz, who hasn’t been the topic of many commerce rumors this winter however appeared to be available previous to this summer season’s commerce deadline.
