Carlos Santana, Free Agent: End of a Chapter in Cleveland
Dominican first baseman Carlos Santana became a free agent this Thursday after being released by the Cleveland Guardians. This decision ends the player’s third stint with the franchise.
The news comes after the team placed him on outright waivers. Now, Santana, 38, has the opportunity to sign with any other team before September 1, which would make him eligible for the postseason.
Santana had returned to Cleveland in December 2024 with a one-year, $12 million contract. The goal was to strengthen the offense after Josh Naylor’s departure. However, in recent weeks, he lost prominence on the field due to the organization’s bet on young players Kyle Manzardo and C.J. Kayfus at first base.
In the current season, the Dominican player participated in 116 games, achieving a batting average of .225, with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs. In addition, he stood out defensively with 7 Outs Above Average at first base, which placed him in second place in all of Major League Baseball in this aspect.
Santana debuted in the Majors with Cleveland in 2010 and, during his 15 seasons in MLB, has spent 11 campaigns with the franchise, becoming a historical reference. He contributed to four postseason qualifications (2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018), including the 2016 World Series.
The switch-hitter holds prominent positions in Guardians history: fifth in home runs (227), eighth in extra-base hits (524), and eleventh in doubles (283). At Progressive Field, his 113 home runs place him fourth on the list, surpassed only by Jim Thome, José Ramírez, and Manny Ramírez.
Cleveland first acquired him in 2008 from the Dodgers, and his bond with the organization has marked several stages of his career, solidifying him as one of the most beloved and respected figures by the fans.
