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Because the Diamondbacks proceed to search for first base assist, the membership has proven curiosity in Carlos Santana, MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo stories. John Gambadoro of 98.7FM Arizona Sports activities provides extra element, saying that Santana is only one of a number of first basemen the Snakes are exploring, and no deal seems to be shut.
A veteran of 16 MLB seasons, Santana has a fame as a clubhouse chief, which Gambadoro says provides additional attraction for the D’Backs on high of Santana’s contributions on the sphere. Santana is a powerful defensive first baseman who lastly received his first profession Gold Glove in 2024, and that very same season noticed him hit .238/.328/.420 with 23 homers over 594 plate appearances for the Twins.
That strong 113 wRC+ marketing campaign was adopted, nonetheless, by an 82 wRC+ efficiency over 474 PA with the Guardians and Cubs in 2025. Santana inked a one-year, $12MM free agent contract to return to his previous stomping grounds, however this third stint in Cleveland didn’t work out, as Santana was launched in late August. The Cubs signed Santana as bench depth heading into the playoff stretch, however he had simply two hits over 19 PA in a Chicago uniform and wasn’t a part of the postseason roster.
Over 474 whole PA in 2025, Santana hit .219/.308/.325, along with his OBP and slugging proportion every representing new profession lows. His 11% stroll fee was nonetheless excellent and he prevented strikeouts at an above-average fee, but the near-total evaporation of Santana’s energy was exhausting to disregard, particularly for a participant in his age-39 season.
The switch-hitting Santana had a giant dropoff in opposition to left-handed pitching, which was noteworthy since Santana has been way more productive hitting from the proper facet of the plate than the left facet lately. For the reason that left-handed hitting Pavin Smith can be Santana’s platoon associate in Arizona, Santana would virtually completely be dealing with southpaws, which could assist him get again on monitor.
The D’Backs are the primary staff publicly linked to Santana’s market this winter, which isn’t stunning as he enters his age-40 season in search of a bounce-back efficiency. Santana beforehand rebounded from down years in 2020-21 to ship extra respectable numbers in 2022-23, however the query is of course how for much longer than the primary baseman preserve avoiding Father Time. Past his profession monitor report, Santana’s robust glove does give him some benefit over different first basemen nonetheless available on the market, which could assist him with a staff like Arizona that solely wants a part-time first base bat.
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