Headlines

  • Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians
  • Blue Jays, Bo Bichette Agree To Three-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration
  • Royals Re-Sign Zack Greinke
  • Dodgers Sign Miguel Rojas To Contract Extension
  • Jake McGee Retires
  • Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Domingo Santana To Sign With Japan’s Yakult Swallows

By Jeff Todd | December 2, 2020 at 9:13pm CDT

Slugger Domingo Santana is crossing the Pacific for the 2021 season, according to a report from MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (via Twitter). The veteran outfielder is said to have agreed to a contract with Japan’s Yakult Swallows, the details of which remain unknown at this time.

Santana, 28, returned to the open market recently when the Indians declined a club option. He’ll now hope for a resurgence in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of play outside of North America.

While he has generally been a productive hitter in the majors, Santana hasn’t always done quite enough damage to make up for his defensive limitations. At his best — in 2017 with the Brewers — he swatted thirty long balls and turned in a full season of 126 wRC+ hitting, making it easy to overlook the questionable work in the outfield grass. At his work — in 2020 with the Indians — a rough offensive stretch left Santana a below-replacement-level performer.

It’s not difficult to imagine a prodigious offensive output from Santana in Japan. He’s still rather young and has typically reached base at a solid enough clip to tamp down any worries with his usually hefty strikeout tally.

Share 0 Retweet 16 Send via email0

Cleveland Guardians Nippon Professional Baseball Transactions Domingo Santana

Brewers Non-Tender Ben Gamel, Alex Claudio, Jace Peterson
Main
National League Non-Tenders
View Comments (21)

Comments

  1. HBan22

    2 years ago

    Seems like a good fit. I always felt like Santana got a bit screwed over by Milwaukee. He had a great season for them in 2017, but then was essentially relegated to bench duty thereafter when the Brewers acquired Yelich and Cain. He didn’t get another full time opportunity until this past season, and I don’t think it’s fair to write him
    off after a bad 70 at-bats.

    Reply
    • baseballpun

      2 years ago

      They still had Braun in left, right? I mean, I hope Santana turns it around, but I don’t think it’s fair to say he got “screwed over” because Milwaukee signed an all-star and an MVP. And they weren’t going to dump Braun for Santana.

      Reply
      • HBan22

        2 years ago

        Fair enough, I just meant that his regular playing time went out the window when they brought in Cain and Yelich. Can’t fault the Brew Crew for trying to improve, but is it not fair to wonder how Santana would have done if he hadn’t been relegated to a part time role in Milwaukee?

        Reply
        • baseballpun

          2 years ago

          Yeah it’s fair, sure. I don’t know if they had an obligation to trade him but they probably should have, both for his own good and for theirs, as his trade value was probably never higher.

          It’s hard to know if someone isn’t putting it all together because of inconsistent opportunities or just because they don’t have it. Can’t really blame the Crew for wanting a fourth outfielder who could put up his 2017 production, which is I’m sure what they were hoping for.

    • afsooner02

      2 years ago

      Milwaukee def did NOT screw him over. He had one semi good year. Struck out way too much and his glove was ho-hum. We were stuck with Braun due to his boat anchor contract so letting DS go was the obvious call. Showed brewers were right when he never duplicated his 2017 numbers and there’s a reason he’s headed to japan at 28.

      Reply
    • zak1

      2 years ago

      Santana played 121 games for Seattle in 2019

      Reply
  2. NYstateofmind 2

    2 years ago

    Sayonara Domingo, don’t call us we’ll call you.

    Reply
  3. niel.marshal

    2 years ago

    With Jose Osuna signed, are the Yakult will not re-sign Alcides Escobar? Since the maximum quota of foreign player that can play are only 3 player, and teams usually play with 2 foreign batter and 1 foreign pitcher (Starter or Reliever).

    Not there’s anything wrong with Escobar since he showing good defense, and batting .284 with 1HR.

    Reply
  4. Rsox

    2 years ago

    Santana should put big power numbers in the NPB

    Reply
  5. Phillies012TG

    2 years ago

    This mans about to hit 75 dingers

    Reply
    • 24TheKid

      2 years ago

      As well as 75 errors.

      Reply
      • phillyphan81

        2 years ago

        He’ll be back in a year or two the the NL adopts the DH

        Reply
  6. Peart of the game

    2 years ago

    Sounds like Domingo Santana is replacing Matt Koch unless they plan on keeping Koch in their minor leagues

    Reply
    • niel.marshal

      2 years ago

      NPB teams can sign as many as foreign player as they want, but can only play 3 player on the field. They usually sign 2 batter and a lot of pitcher, both starter and reliever.

      Yakult in 2020 have 5 foreign player, Batter (Alcides Escobar) and Pitcher (Matt Koch, Scott Mcgough, Albert Suarez and Gabriel Ynoa)

      So far for 2021 they already sign Jose Osuna and now Domingo Santana, this make Alcides Escobar position in question, since NPB teams usually only sign 2 foreign hitter, usually corner infield or corner outfield guy with lot of power.

      Reply
  7. Dalton1017

    2 years ago

    thought it said Danny Santana for a second… was extremely surprised…

    Reply
  8. The_Athlete

    2 years ago

    The next Wladimir Balentien.

    Reply
  9. dkcsmc1991

    2 years ago

    Slugger?

    Reply
  10. bravesfan

    2 years ago

    The big prospect that never met expectations. Seems there are more misses than normal these days

    Reply
    • jjd002

      2 years ago

      I think it has to do with our access to everything before they reach the pros.

      Reply
  11. Polish Hammer

    2 years ago

    Good place for him.

    Reply
  12. dgk71

    2 years ago

    Putting it nicely he maybe the worst outfielder I’ve ever seen. Every pop up in Seattle was a hold your breath moment

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians

    Blue Jays, Bo Bichette Agree To Three-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration

    Royals Re-Sign Zack Greinke

    Dodgers Sign Miguel Rojas To Contract Extension

    Jake McGee Retires

    Orioles To Decline Five-Year Lease Extension At Camden Yards, Seeking Longer-Term Agreement With Maryland Stadium Authority

    Mariners, Dylan Moore Agree to Three-Year Extension

    Blue Jays Sign Chad Green

    Rays Extend Yandy Diaz

    Dexter Fowler Announces Retirement

    Mets Sign Jeff McNeil To Four-Year Extension

    Red Sox, Marlins Swap Matt Barnes For Richard Bleier

    Darren O’Day Announces Retirement

    Braves Extend Manager Brian Snitker Through 2025

    Rays Sign Pete Fairbanks To Extension

    Royals Sign Aroldis Chapman To One-Year Deal

    Athletics Sign Jesús Aguilar

    Orioles Acquire Cole Irvin From A’s

    Astros Name Dana Brown General Manager

    Rays Extend Jeffrey Springs

    Recent

    Arte Moreno Reiterates Angels’ Desire To Keep Shohei Ohtani Past 2023 Season

    The Volatile Red Sox Rotation

    Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians

    Padres Sign Tim Lopes, Rangel Ravelo To Minor League Deals

    MLBTR Chat Transcript

    Latest On Nick Senzel’s Injury Rehab

    Jared Walsh Provides Update On Surgery Rehabilitation

    Aaron Ashby Behind Schedule Due To Shoulder Fatigue

    Trade Rumors Front Office: Q&A

    Tigers, DJ Peters Agree To Minor League Deal

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version