Player News

• Guardians' Carlos Santana: Looking at everyday role

  02/18/2025 • By RotoWire

  Santana will likely occupy an everyday role to start the 2025 season, Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. The soon-to-be 39-year-old is expected to serve as the primary first baseman. Santana returned to Cleveland in the offseason and still is a productive hitter in the twilight of his career. He credited former big leaguer Nelson Cruz, who taught him how to age gracefully. "I don't feel 38," Santana said. "This is my No. 1 priority. I eat healthy, sleep well, I'm not doing alcohol, I have training, I have a chef." The Guardians have up-and-comer Kyle Manzardo in the pipeline, but Santana is viewed as the primary replacement for Josh Naylor's power bat at first base. Santana crushed lefties in 2024 (.286/.356/.578), but a repeat of his line against righties (.219/.318/.358) could eventually create a platoon situation.

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• Guardians' Carlos Santana: Returning to Cleveland

  12/22/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Guardians signed Santana to a one-year, $12 million contract Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. Santana's signing came shortly after Cleveland traded Josh Naylor to Arizona for pitcher Slade Cecconi, so Santana appears set to take over as the starter at first base for the Guardians. The $12 million contract represents a nice pay raise for the veteran slugger, who joined Minnesota on a one-year, $5.25 million dollar deal last February and enjoyed a solid campaign with a .748 OPS -- his highest since 2019 -- while slugging 23 homers and notching 71 RBI over 594 plate appearances during the regular season. Santana is nearing the end of his career -- he'll turn 39 years old in April -- but should provide a decent amount of run production in the middle of Cleveland's lineup while serving as a bridge to the team's future.

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• Carlos Santana: Wants to play 3-to-4 more seasons

  11/04/2024 • By RotoWire

  Santana's agent, Ulises Cabrera, said Monday that his client wants to play for 3-to-4 more seasons, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. It seems unlikely that Santana will be able to hang around that much longer, considering he'll turn 39 in April. However, he's coming off a strong 2024 season, having slashed .238/.328/.420 with 23 home runs over 150 games for the Twins while winning his first-ever Gold Glove at first base.

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• Twins' Carlos Santana: Homers, drives in three

  09/15/2024 • By RotoWire

  Santana went 3-for-4 on Sunday with a home run, two RBI and three runs scored against the Reds. Santana homered and doubled to finish just a triple shy of the cycle. The 15-year-vet's two-run blast in the seventh doubled the Twins' lead and served as the springboard to a five-run inning that sealed the game. Santana is now batting 8-for-18 (.444) with two homers, a double, six RBI and six runs scored during a modest five-game hitting streak.

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• Twins' Carlos Santana: Sitting Saturday

  09/14/2024 • By RotoWire

  Santana isn't in the Twins' lineup Saturday against Cincinnati. Santana has put together a nice four-game hitting streak, during which he's gone 5-for-14 with a homer and three RBI, but he'll take a seat Saturday against Nick Martinez and the Reds. Jose Miranda will start at first base and bat eighth.

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