The Kansas City Royals have been relatively quiet in recent weeks, but the Cleveland Guardians are just getting started this offseason. On December 21, the Guardians traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitcher Slade Cecconi and a 2025 Competitive Balance Round B Draft Pick.
Less than half an hour later, they signed infielder Carlos Santana, a former Royals first baseman, from the free agent market.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Santana and the Guardians have agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal, pending a physical. This will mark the 38-year-old infielder’s third tenure with Cleveland.
Santana, originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005, was traded to Cleveland in 2008. He made his MLB debut with the Guardians in 2010 and played with them until 2017, when he became a free agent.
The Philadelphia Phillies signed him to a three-year contract, but in December 2018, he was traded back to the Guardians. After the 2020 season, Cleveland declined his club option, making him a free agent once again.
On December 8, 2020, Santana signed a two-year, $17.5 million deal with the Kansas City Royals to become their regular first baseman. The Royals had been in constant flux at the position since Eric Hosmer left after the 2017 season.
During his 2021 season with Kansas City, Santana posted disappointing numbers, batting .214/.319/.342 with 19 home runs and 69 RBIs in 659 plate appearances.
His wRC+ was a low 83, though it was still better than other Royals players Michael A. Taylor and Hunter Dozier that season. His 86 walks led the Royals and ranked eighth in MLB.
Santana continued as the Royals’ starting first baseman in 2022, but on June 27, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Wyatt Mills and minor-league pitcher William Fleming. At the time, he had a .216/.349/.341 line with 4 home runs and 21 RBIs in 212 plate appearances.
Since 2022, Santana has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins. Despite inconsistency, the 38-year-old has still displayed power, hitting at least 20 home runs in each of the last two seasons.
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In 2024, with the Twins, he posted a .238/.328/.420 line, hitting 23 home runs and 71 RBIs in 594 plate appearances.
Now, Santana is set to return to Cleveland, where he started his MLB career nearly 16 years ago, and will take over at first base for the recently traded Naylor, alongside Kyle Manzardo, who made his MLB debut in May 2024.
