The Guardians have placed veteran first baseman Carlos Santana on outright waivers, Ken Rosenthal and Zack Meisel of The Athletic report. The 39-year-old switch-hitter is playing on a one-year, $12MM contract and still has about $2.13MM of that sum yet to be paid out.
Any team that claims Santana would need to take on the entirety of that remaining sum. Santana has not been designated for assignment, meaning he can continue to play while he is on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, the Guardians do not need to assign him to a minor league affiliate or remove him from the 40-man roster (though they could choose to do so). If he is claimed, the waivers are irrevocable, and Santana will head to the claiming club. In 455 plate appearances this season, Santana is hitting .225/.316/.333 with his typical brand of elite defense at first base.
Though his defense remains excellent and Santana is still drawing walks at a premium 11.4% rate, his overall offensive output has been about 14% worse than average, by measure of wRC+. This season’s 18.9% strikeout rate is the second-highest of his career and his worst since way back in 2011. Santana is averaging a career-low 87.5 mph off the bat and has struggled particularly from the left side of the plate, hitting just .220/.311/.325 against right-handed pitching.
The Guardians have fallen down the standings with a recent 1-9 skid. Cleveland now sits six games back in the American League Wild Card chase (plus an even more daunting 12.5 games out in the division).
With that swoon and the placement of Santana on waivers, they’ll turn the page on the 2025 season and give more playing time to younger, controllable first base/designated hitter options like Kyle Manzardo and recently promoted top prospect C.J. Kayfus. The 25-year-old Manzardo has popped 21 homers while hitting .231/.313/.453 in 415 plate appearances this season, while the 23-year-old Kayfus is hitting .220/.281/.424 in his first 63 turns at the plate as a big leaguer.
If another club does claim Santana and his remaining salary, he’d be postseason-eligible by virtue of that fact that he’s in his new organization prior to Sept. 1. If he goes unclaimed, Cleveland could release the well-respected veteran in hopes that he’ll catch on elsewhere and be able to participate in another postseason run.
Love Santana but this is the right move. I doubt anyone picks up his contract
Same. I will always wish him well, but Kayfus should be getting everyday reps at first
I hope his retirement goes smooth.
Props to you for not making the lame old joke as 1st comment like that example just to get the easy thumbs up.
A ghastly .547 OPS since June 8. Seems like the right move.
Just like with Lowe and Boston, he could just need a change. I note he still plays good defense. an injury before 08/31 allows him to be considered for a playoff roster.
As a Guardians hostage I hate that these are the news items I get excited about with my team. It’s never we traded for Yordan Alvarez and are making a run at a championship now or whatever. It’s always we dropped an also ran and hopefully our new first baseman can hit .250 with 20ish home runs. It’s exhausting.
Hang in there. Every team needs devoted fans like you.
Don’t think Alvarez was available
Try being a Pirates fan.
@Mendoza line
I’m always low-key rooting for the Pirates. The squared off hats were awesome, and they had some very charismatic players back in the day.
These days I just want them to be viable again. The ownership has really let you guys down. I know it sounds silly coming from a Dodgers fan, but they should be better, and I hope one of these days they can return to their former glory.
Or a Twins fan although Pirate fans haven’t had hope for years.
The team has been consistently competitive for more than 10 years. They cannot make the playoffs every year.
This was more if a retooling year and, even after losing Clase and Ortiz, they still managed to be in the playoff hunt into August.. that’s a minor miracle.
Stop.
Why did they feel a need to retool after making a good playoff run, though? They’re going to miss the playoffs because they traded four All-Stars. It is definitely a failure considering they would be a cinch for the playoffs if they had just made no moves at all.
I don’t think they were a cinch. They still don’t have starting pitching. Bibee and Allen have pitched like #5 starters. Williams is #3 at best. Cecconi, arguably their best, wouldn’t be with the club. Ortiz wouldn’t have been with the team. Messick looks like a beast, though.
They weren’t even close to a cinch.
Phillies – Gimenez, Josh Naylor and who else am I missing?
That Gimenez deal was a no-brainer. Move that contract and clear a path for Bazzana. Even if Luis Ortiz never pitches another major league game, that is looking like a great deal.
As for Naylor.. they wanted to cash-in since he is an impending free agent. They were able to do so and address another need. It hasn’t worked out but the thought was that Santana and Manzardo would be able to cover a lot of Naylor’s production. Not that Naylor has had a great year but Santana clearly hasn’t worked out.
Start the season with Gimenez and Naylor instead of Ortiz and Cecconi – I do the think they are a clear contender.
The head scratcher part of trading Naylor was always signing Santana. If you are trying to get value from Naylor in a walk year, that’s fine. But, if part of that equation is freeing up money to spend elsewhere, why give it to an aging Santana that is only a 1B/DH type? Plus, Santana made around $6 million each of the last two years, so why would an older version of him merit twice that amount?
Not to mention, those type of players are usually undervalued, and they could’ve probably picked up a league average platoon mate for Manzardo for way less money. Then, they could’ve used that money on another hitter somewhere else in the lineup. The whole thing seemed out of character for the Guardians.
If this is it for Slamtana, heck of a career man. One of the more underrated players of the last two decades.
He has been on base more than 3200 times, and it is remarkable to deservedly win a Gold Glove at age 38.
I think this is a precursor to possibly trading him, post deadline of they want to.
How are they going to trade him post-deadline?
Irrevocable. If he gets claimed he is gone.
There’s no post deadline trading hence the word deadline.
Players that have been on the 40 man cant be traded after the deadline anymore. The July deadline is it now, with the exception of minor league trades.
Is this the Russell Branyan, former Rays player ?
Speaking of former Rays players…
Branyan the Manyan?
I never understood why the thrifty Guardians spent $12 M on Santana in the first place. Baffling move then, leading to this rather inevitable release now.
Tbf, people wrote him off before he signed for the Pirates in 2023.
And before he was traded to the Brewers. And before he signed for the Twins last year.
So he has a very recent track record of exceeding expectations with the bat and providing elite defense.
Cost similar to Taylor. Good pr move. Before fans could complain about trade they brought back a old favorite. 1b was in demand so bidding got intense.
For that money it reminded me of their Josh Bell signing for like $18M per year for two years.
He put up a 3 fWAR season the year prior.
Seems like this is probably the end of the road, and if it is hats off to Santana. He had a very nice career. Easy entry to the hall of Very Good.
Might have 1 more if he wants to play bad enough. Part of 1 more at least. How far he makes it who knows.
His advanced stats (and bat speed) aren’t too far off from 2024. Can still take a walk and play defense. Maybe see what he’s got left in S.T.
Even regular stats avg obp only down a dozen points. You are the problem if you expected 20 some hrs again. Pittsburgh KC Seattle is what you are hoping for. If he went to Houston Boston Cincinnati Milwaukee Sacramento Colorado he would have a better ops.
Yeah, maybe. I could be getting ahead of myself. Though I assume unless he is able to latch on with a surefire WS contender, why go somewhere just to go somewhere next year? He got to come back to Cleveland at age 39 and posted serviceable numbers. Short of going out on top, a nice full circle moment like that is a better ending than most guys get to ride off into. He’s got nothing to regret if he makes the decision to hang ’em up.
Who knows. Maybe he just likes playing baseball. Maybe even Cleveland brings him back at a much lower salary.
He hit those hrs last year and got to play few months in Milwaukee 2023. But his range of outcome for 2021 2022 2025 is 650 to 700 ops. At 39 or whatever no one should have expected 750.
The wheels could fall off next but if they don’t you can expect 650 ops great defense. Lil pop with good k rate. Great leadership.
This move works as long as they intend to call up a position player who can actually hit. Gotta get Valera on the roster or he’s a FA at year’s end. It’s now or never.
It is never.
This move works period. At best someone wants him. At worst you keep him or dfa him. Seasons over. Doesn’t matter what happens.
If they dont give Valera a shot, what was the point in the first place. He’s finally healthy and hitting.
Why the love for Valera? He’s a AAAA player who isn’t a good outfielder. He has been hurt for years. Yes, he has an 8-something OPS, but he is playing in a bandbox in Columbus.
He won’t be with the team next year.
Father time has caught up with Santana’s bat. I doubt he gets claimed but i also doubt that they just unceremoniously release him either. Might be time for Carlos to announce this as his farewell tour
Maybe or it could be just a down year.
I’d give him a minor league deal or 1 1.5m to be a role model on a young rebuilding team and pick some throws at 1b.
I’ll miss all the guitar references.
My guitar is already gently weeping
Smooth
Fire Cherington for not signing this scrub
Jay killer. All uniforms. Every year
My guitar is gently weeping
So smooth you had to say it twice
I am afraid that this could happen to McCutcheon next year if he comes back to Pittsburgh.
Nope. Cutch will make half that salary and Santana would be one of the half dozen best players if he was on Pirates.
If the Pirates were absolutely hell-bent on dumping Cutch, I think they’d offer him a chance to retire rather than cut him. Releasing him would be the absolute last resort.
Releasing him now allows a playoff pushing club with a need to grab him before rosters lock at the end of the month. They probably also discussed this with him beforehand
Can’t be any worse than Donovan Solano, amirite?
Had the talent to be great. Unfortunately, took October through June off most of his career.
He has 1878 hits, 335 home runs, 1330 walks, and a Gold Glove. What would you consider to be a great career?
A very good career that we can only dream of but not HOF worthy.
He’s got the Sept 1st playoff roster availability working against him and his price is a bit steep for a mid market team making a playoff push. Don’t really see a fit for him unless there’s an injury this week.
If they did this last week I could see Boston considering him over Lowe. Glad they weren’t forced to decide. Lowe has been awesome.
I was thinking the same thing
We all know what the idea of additions are to Reds management, so his next stop may become clear soon.
Trading Spencer Horwitz and re signing the almost 40 year old Santana made no sense.
The goal was to get a pitcher who would later be suspended
Players need to know when its time to walk away and retire with dignity.
I’d be happy to retire with an extra $12M, with or without my dignity.
He certainly played well enough in 2024 to justify coming back for 2025.
He had a down year for the money but not the worst season ever…
If the Minnesota Twins are patient, and wait until the Guardians release Carlos Santana, and are stuck with the remainder of his 2025 contract, picking up Carlos Sanatana to finish out the season. Santana has better offensing and defensive numbers than Kody Clemens and Eddie Julian, both lefties, and switch hitter/1B/Catcher Mickey Gasper. Twins like cheap players and a reunion with Santana for the final few weeks would be an upgrade for the team, maybe win a couple more games, and probably sell a few more Twins tickets in the final month. Go CHEAP! Go Twins. Give our Gold Glove on final harrah at Target Field.
I like the idea, make it happen Twins!
I like the idea too but he’s not selling any extra seats unless his next gig is behind the counter.
He’s better on the guitar anyway.
Strange convoluted transaction he’s released but still playing. That’s some Black Magic
He wasnt released, or DFA’d, just waived. This used to happen to about half the league when revocable waivers and waiver trades were a thing.
Well then that’s smooth
It used to be done to gauge interest in players as after the deadline, only minor leaguers and those that cleared waivers could be dealt. Manfredi eliminated that rule regarding trades but not the waiver part. Anyone willing to pay his remainder salary can take him. Otherwise he remains in Cleveland should they still want him.
Cubs should claim Santana and release Turner.
AJ Preller is probably jumping out of his seat to sign him in the offseason. He loves signing over the hill ball players. Seems like every off season there’s at least one.
Why don’t the Rockies pick him up? He has got to be better than what they are running out there. If he does well, offer him a 1 year deal. If he has a good 2026, then they can trade him at the deadline. You know he’s a solid defender. He will get his walks. He has some power. He’s a professional major league player. Someone that will bring class to the organization.
Santana has been the same guy for the last five years. He’s been picked up by a team thinking they are in contention in three of those years. He’s stays healthy, plays first-class defense, is good in the clubhouse, draws his walks and hits an occasional homer and for many years, he’s been a far better RH hitter.
At 39 his numbers aren’t bad just an average mlb, players stats and better than a lot of other players throughout the league. just not CS primo, so if he ops for retirement I think he goes out on a high note. “Bayball been vedy vedy goot to me” ~ Garrett Morris.
Gotta change your evil ways if you wanna get picked up by another tm