Free agent first baseman Carlos Santana will turn 39 in April, but he’s not thinking of calling it a career anytime soon. Agent Ulises Cabrera of Octagon tells MLB.com’s Jon Morosi that Santana would like to play another three or four seasons before he considers retirement.
That’s an ambitious goal for any player approaching 40, but Santana’s recent play suggests he could have the longevity needed. The veteran switch-hitter signed a one-year, $5.25MM deal with the Twins last winter and delivered his best overall performance since 2019. Santana slumped through a dreadful first month of the season before finding his groove at the plate. He connected on his first homer on April 25, went on to homer in three straight games, and never looked back. Over his final 514 plate appearances, he slashed .253/.342/.460 (129 wRC+), boosting his season-long batting line to .238/.328/.420 in the process. He popped 23 home runs and hit 26 doubles in 594 plate appearances over 150 games.
Santana remained a tough strikeout, fanning in just 16.7% of his trips to the plate. His walk rate also remained plus, checking in at a stout 10.9%. He tormented left-handed pitching and was a roughly league-average bat against righties. Thriving on the short side of a platoon would be more problematic for a typically defensive limited first baseman, but Santana showed he’s far more than that. He took home a Gold Glove — surprisingly, the first of his career despite long rating as a plus defender at first base — and was credited with 8 Defensive Runs Saved and 14 Outs Above Average.
Overall, Santana was 14% better than average at the plate (by measure of wRC+) and excellent in the field. Baseball-Reference pegged his 2024 output at 2.5 wins above replacement, while FanGraphs was slightly more bullish at 3.0 WAR. Santana proved that he can still play at a high level, and while it’s not clear whether that’ll result in multi-year offers, his strong season and apparent desire to play into his 40s at least creates a slight possibility of a two-year pact.
As is the case with any free agent heading into his age-39 campaign, a one-year deal is the much likelier outcome. Santana likely played his way into a raise from last year’s modest salary, however. It helps that there are several clubs on the lookout for help at first base — the Astros, D-backs, Yankees, Nationals, Giants, and incumbent Twins potentially among them.
Nice to hear he still wants to play his guitar a few more years.
His *Evil Ways* have doomed the Tigers more times than I can count over the years…
He’s really *Smooth* in the field. He’s got some *Winning* ways.
Stats decide
not you
Teams actually decide. Stats have nothing to do with it, more like if a team decides he is a productive player, or more productive then they already have.
How do you imagine those teams decide? Voodoo and ouija boards?
Pretty sure they all use stats/metrics.
If his stats and projected performance (aka future stats) are better then the guys they have, he’ll keep getting offers.
Teams decide based on data—> Stats
How do teams evaluate whether he is productive or not?
Each team has their own way of evaluating players. It has little to do with a mythical, across the board “replacement”, but rather what they feel is important to them and the way their team is constructed.
And what are the parameters by which they quantify what is important and how it helps their team’s roster?
Go ask each team. I bet you’ll get 30 different answers.
Lucky for him his stats are solid.
Supernatural
It’s possible if Gregg Rolie can still sing
Well, Neal Schon can still play too?
Yes, but can they *hit*?
Does he think he’s Julio Franco lol, if he does a year by year maybe, I’ll take him as a backup 1b- DH on the Mets,lol
Or Jesse Orosco?!
Jamie Moyer? I think I spelled his name correctly
I’d comp him more to Nelson Cruz. He played until he was 43. Not that weird for Santana to do the same thing.
Don’t insult Julio like that. Retire at 42? Julio made it to 48!
Minnie Minoso has them all beat.
Will be signed for starting 1b for 2025. His bat isn’t good for a dh and a bench player who can only dh and play a lil 1b isn’t ideal. His value is playing 1b.
Though the article mentions the teams in need, it does not mention that there will be a decent number of options at first on the market
start your own column and you can see whatever you want to see?
I would rank him 3rd among FA 1B. Goldy 4th
I didn’t even know he was still playing…
I mean that doesn’t mean he wasn’t productive
Him winning a gold glove was a joke!He played what, 40 games in the field? Mountcastle is far superior.
Mountcastle, Guerrero, Torkelson in his limited games (which was still more than Santana)…. should have to play 81+ games at a position to even qualify
He played 146 games at first base.
Palmiero won a Gold Glove playing 20 some games at first several years ago, which said all that needed to be said about the meaning of this so-called award.
Let me start by saying I am in the same boat as you. But you are showing your age by using the word “several” there. 1999 was a quarter century ago. That is quite a bit more time than several years.
A quarter-century back, or several years.
To me, several is somewhere between 6-10 or so. More than a few, but not that many. I guess it could be a “to each their own” situation, but I don’t consider a number as large as 25 to be several.
Santana played 143 games at first base in 2024 not 40.
Fairly easy to look up the facts but even easier to just make up imaginary numbers.
We’ll leave the fantasy numbers to the politicians
Santana stole the gold glove election. 40 games at 1b yet he still wins? Now he is threat to mlb democracy refusing to leave even at his advanced age. I heard he is going to take away your social security and push grandma off a cliff.
We can’t afford 4 more years of Carlos Santana.
I believe he led all AL 1B’man in appearances at 1B at 146, but also led 1B’man with 14 outs above average and tied for the lead with eight defensive runs saved. By metrics and the eye test, he deserved the Gold Glove.
He played 146 games (139 starts) and 1250 innings at first base last year.
If him winning a gold glove is your idea of a joke, I’d strongly advise you to not pursue a career in comedy.
Maybe he could be like Steve Harvey and just be loud instead of actually being funny,
Do your homework. He played 1,250 innings at first base.
he played 1,250 innings as first base and I watched most of them as a Twins fan. He was fantastic and deserved. One of the few bright spots for us. Do your homework.
@cooperhill – You may want to fact check all future posts.
That information is readily available to you.. the number of games/innings played in the field, as well as all the defensive metrics. It would probably take you just as long to look it up as it did to write your post.
@cooperhill
Mountcastle played 981-1/3 innings and 114 games at first compared to Santana’s 1250 innings and 146 games
They put up the same number of defensive runs saved (8)
Santana had a tremendous 14 outs above average, while Mountcastle had only 2 outs above average.
Overall, Santana played more and better at first base this past season.
Does anyone here know how many games and innings Santana played at 1B this year?
That’s nice, but at his age he will need to do it year-to-year, with three or four one-year contracts. As Nelson Cruz showed, a player can be productive in his late 30s, even to 40, but the bottom will eventually fall out, and Santana is nowhere near as productive as Cruz was.
Cruz was also a convicted steroid user, so that says all you need to know about him playing in his late 30’s and early 40’s.
Convicted?
He tested positive for it and was suspended for 50 games. That’s clearly a felony conviction!
Take the Justin Turner route but with defensive value.
Very appropriate day to announce ‘four more years’. Settle down, Carlos. It’s going to be a long winter with that energy.
@RunDMC
Different eras, different players & this comment if for s**** & giggles, but Carl Yaztrzemski’s last contract was for five years as he approached age 39.
He could sign four 1-year deals.
Rays should pick him up
Hell no!! Give Mead or Aranda or somebody a chance first. They have enough old guys who can’t hit on their roster.
I could see CLE bringing him in for a season or two if they decide to trade Naylor. He may not slug like Naylor, but he could be a mentor (if not complement) to Manzardo.
3rd stint in Cleveland
That Supernatural album was great especially his song Smooth with Rob Thomas
“Smooth” is 25 years old and I can still listen to it every day. A true classic.
The LSD induced set at Woodstock is 55 yrs old and is still considered one of rock’s best live performances ever.
Well, I’ve heard stranger things happen. If he can continue to be a Gold Glove defender with a capable bat, there will be interest.
I still can’t believe the 2022 Red Sox couldn’t even feign interest in Santana when he was available for next to free. Seattle acquired him and took off for their first playoff berth in almost 20 years, while the Sox faded behind Dalbec’s regression and Franchy Cordero’s adventures with a first base glove.
A move like this has mariners written all over it
As he proceeds to hit with a 600 ops with 35% K’s
Considering his career mark is 16.5%, that would be quite a feat.
He did alright for them in 2022. Also his veteran presence was a stabilizing influence on Julio.
Santana wanted to come back to play for the Pirates in 2024, but the cheap organization instead brought in Rowdy Tellez because his asking price was $2 million less than Santana’s
can’t think of another current player who has flown under the radar for so many years
When commenters are obviously wrong about their assertions, what do they do next? Do they sheepishly apologize or do they just continue to the next …
I have an opinion about this behavior. It also irritates me and interrupts the flow of conversation. Stop please.
If I’m Chris Getz I think he would fit nicely in the clubhouse. He will show professional AB’s, he’s never been a locker room cancer, and he can still get the job done when need be. If he has an excellent season next year, you can also flip him.
Rooting for Carlos to stay in the league and get his wishes come true!
Not a bad idea, however, guessing Vaughn will keep getting the 1B work to see if his offseason work and hitting potential is realized in ’25 since nothing to lose.
Other factor is JR probably doesn’t want them casually throwing 5mil to a solid vet unless it’s a lineup spot where they have little help like 3B/SS/2B/RF…..or slugger not getting interest.
They need professional hitters, not guys who has high ceilings and what not. Santana would also help out like a 2nd hitting coach with the youngsters. I get what you are saying but it feels like a good fir for both sides.
This would make for a great poll article as to where Carlos winds up.
Every article should come with a poll
I am aiming to learn Korean and marry Jennie Kim but that doesn’t make it realistic.
I thought this guy was cooked half a decade ago tbh, but he still keeps quietly producing. Not sure his 3/4 year left statement is going to help him get a multiyear deal, but he’s earned at least another 1 year deal.
4 years/$20M then
Tempted to figure out my login to twitter just to see Mike Petriello’s thoughts here. 20 years ago we talked a lot about this guy, and while we were big fans, who would have thought 20 years later we’d be talking about his Gold Glove he just won.
Mariners need bats at a lot of positions, 1B/DH included, and Santana’s cheap. Seems like a perfect fit for a reunion!
Not a bad career for a guy who started out as a catcher. Maybe some team needs a 3rd string backup catcher just in case.
He hasn’t caught since 2014 though.
@iknoweverythingesq
Which is why I said a 3rd string backup catcher.
I thought he’d hang them up a few years ago. 37 year old players go to Pittsburgh generally as a last hurrah. I give him props for wanting to still play.
I wonder if SD might be interested. Bogaerts back to SS, Cronenworth at 2b, Santana at 1b.
This probably means trading Luis Arraez, or not. Arraez can play DH and back up 1b and 2b.
He still has a good bat and is a respectable fielder. Pirates may want take another look. Maybe give him an option year of some sort.
Pirates need bats. Doesn’t need to be good just not bad. Would force Reynolds to stay in the OF but there are worse things.
Two average+ bats with the younger guys not hurting the line up would go a long way.
Of course they need pen arms and probably a backend starter as insurance or inning eater.
Yankees better pass on him. It’s time to get younger and more athletic. I’m not sure Cabrera can play full-time or Rice. The Yankees definitely need someone to replace Rizzo.
If the Yankees are able to resign Soto they will be looking to fill the other holes as cheaply as possible. Santana would be a big upgrade over Rizzo so Santana at 1/7 is a nice fit there.
I’m still not over the Dodgers trading him without getting Sabathia back in return.