Carlos Santana to Represent DR in the World Baseball Classic
The Arizona Diamondbacks have given the green light for veteran Dominican first baseman Carlos Santana to participate in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, despite the fact that the player will turn 40 in April and does not have insurance coverage due to his age. According to reports, insurers do not cover baseball players over 37 years old with guaranteed contracts in Major League Baseball. However, the Arizona organization has decided to assume any financial risk in the event that Santana suffers an injury during the tournament. Santana recently signed a one-year, two-million-dollar contract with the Diamondbacks, an agreement that was made official this week. Unlike other teams that have restricted their players’ participation in the international event for contractual reasons, Arizona has shown flexibility with the experienced slugger.Leadership and Chemistry in the Team
One of the key factors in this decision was the value that management places on Santana’s leadership within the locker room, especially with the presence of his teammates Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo, who will also play with the Dominican team.The directive, led by owner Ken Kendrick and president Derrick Hall, supported the decision after internal conversations. Santana, with 16 seasons in the Major Leagues and 335 home runs in his career, expressed his gratitude for the support. The veteran indicated that his wish was to represent his country, although he would respect any decision made by the club.The organization understands the importance of the tournament for the player and considers it positive that he shares that experience with other team members.
Mike Hazen, General Manager
