The Guardians made a splash over the weekend by signing first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year deal price $12MM, bringing the long-time Cleveland staple again into the fold for the third time in his profession. With that being mentioned, nonetheless, it wasn’t the one contract supply Santana acquired throughout his free company. Based on a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic this morning, the Mariners prolonged a suggestion to Santana that got here with extra assured cash than the one he landed in Cleveland. Rosenthal additionally cited the Yankees, Mets, Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Rangers, and Padres amongst golf equipment that had curiosity within the switch-hitter earlier than he finally landed in Cleveland.
Concerning Seattle’s supply, Rosenthal specifies that not solely did the deal include extra assured cash, nevertheless it truly concerned a participant choice for the 2026 season, permitting Santana to both decide out and return to free company or stay with the membership. It’s considerably shocking 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 house) the one-year deal he went on to signal.
The Mariners briefly acquired Santana from the Phillies in the course of the 2018-19 offseason however flipped him to Cleveland shortly thereafter, earlier than he ever suited up for the membership. He ultimately 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 truly good for an above-average 103 wRC+ due to a robust 11.9% stroll fee and the 15 house runs he clobbered down the stretch for the membership.
That half-season stint evidently made sufficient of an impression with the Mariners that they had been considering a reunion as they looked for first base assist this winter. Earlier this winter, the Mariners had been reportedly pursuing a reunion with both Carlos Santana or Justin Turner at first base. Turner continues to be obtainable, although it’s unclear whether or not that curiosity on Seattle’s finish has endured as the primary base market has shifted in latest days. Of the six groups apart from 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 naturally 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 plenty of attention-grabbing first base choices obtainable. Turner has been a reliably above common hitter 11 consecutive seasons now however celebrated his fortieth birthday final month, a actuality that might give some groups pause about committing to him as a daily choice if they will’t supply vital time at DH as effectively. Pete Alonso is in fact the highest free agent obtainable 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 plenty of veteran choices on the place who might seemingly be had on a low-cost deal, and the commerce market presents the likelihood that the Giants might half methods with LaMonte Wade Jr. or even perhaps a take care of the Rays involving Yandy Diaz, who hasn’t been the topic of many commerce rumors this winter however seemed to be obtainable previous to this summer season’s commerce deadline.
