16 articles
CHC • 1B
about 2 months ago
As Kyle Tucker returns, Santana loses his spot after going 2-for-19 in eight appearances for the Cubs, leaving him at .219/.308/.325 in 474 plate appearances this season. He could factor into the postseason mix if more injuries strike. Otherwise, he’ll head into free agency as a 40-year-old coming off the worst season of his career. He might have to take a minor league deal if he hopes to keep playing.
CHC • 1B
about 2 months ago
As Kyle Tucker returns, Santana loses his spot after going 2-for-19 in eight appearances for the Cubs, leaving him at .219/.308/.325 in 474 plate appearances this season. He could factor into the postseason mix if more injuries strike. Otherwise, he’ll head into free agency as a 40-year-old coming off the worst season of his career. He might have to take a minor league deal if he hopes to keep playing.
CHC • 1B
3 months ago
He’ll get to keep his usual 41 jersey, as Michael Soroka has made the switch to 19. The Cubs now have the league’s two oldest active position players, with the 39-year-old Santana slotting in behind the 40-year-old Justin Turner there but probably ahead of Turner on the depth chart. He’ll likely get some starts at first base against lefties and serve as a pinch-hitter.
CLE • 1B
3 months ago
The outright waiver process is meant to be confidential, so there won’t be anything official from Cleveland for now. The 39-year-old veteran has ceded playing time to youngster Kyle Manzardo in recent weeks and the organization also has C.J. Kayfus on the big-league roster, who is capable of playing the cold corner. He’s had a down year offensively, but there might be a team out there willing to roll the dice as a bench bat for the postseason.
Source: Ken Rosenthal
CLE • 1B
3 months ago
C.J. Kayfus sits as a result. Santana last homered on July 11 and has hit .215/.278/.246 during the second half. The Guardians might think it makes some sense to keep him involved while they’re still in contention, but the 39-year-old hasn’t aided the cause lately. Still, Santana, the league’s second oldest position player behind Justin Turner, has bounced back every other time he’s been written off in recent years after a slump.
CLE • 1B
3 months ago
Santana started the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning. He also had an RBI single in the third inning and a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning. Santana is hitting just .230 with a .663 OPS in his age-39 season, but also has 51 RBI.
CLE • 1B
4 months ago
Santana ambushed a first-pitch cutter from Tyler Alexander and crushed it for a 418-foot (109.3 mph EV) two-run shot to center that gave the Guardians a 4-2 lead they would never relinquish. He has had a rough time at the plate in his third tour with the Guardians, slashing .230/.325/.362 with 11 long balls and 40 RBI.
CLE • 1B
5 months ago
The Guardians had a homer parade early against Shota Imanaga with Santana, David Fry, and Lane Thomas giving them an early 3-0 lead. Then, Tanner Bibee unraveled and they couldn’t fight back. Santana has been the same steady, boring contributor he’s always been so far this season with 10 home runs, four stolen bases, and a .708 OPS just past the halfway point of the season.
CLE • 1B
5 months ago
Santana singled off of Matthew Boyd with two outs in the opening inning but was left stranded there. He then smacked a leadoff double into left field in the fourth inning and came around to score the Guardians’ first run on an RBI knock by Nolan Jones. With his two-hit attack, the switch-hitting 39-year-old is now hitting an underwhelming .237/.332/.362 with nine long balls, 37 RBI and four stolen bases.
CLE • 1B
5 months ago
Santana had a terrific final two weeks of May, but that’s really the only thing keeping his stat line afloat. He’s come in at .169/.220/.260 with an unusually poor 20/5 K/BB ratio in 82 plate appearances this month. He had a 37/30 K/BB in 220 plate appearances over the first two months.
CLE • 1B
5 months ago
It was his eighth homer of 2025 and first slam since 2022. David Fry’s return has taken a big toll on Kyle Manzardo’s playing time, but it doesn’t seem like it’ll have much effect on Santana, who has started 61 of the Guardians 67 games. He’s batting .251/.350/.388 in 257 plate appearances.
CLE • 1B
6 months ago
Santana is back at first base and batting fifth following a brief two-game absence due to left leg tightness. It doesn’t seem like a cause for concern moving forward. The 39-year-old veteran has six homers and 27 RBI across 49 games this season in his return to Cleveland.
Source: MLB.com
CLE • 1B
6 months ago
Santana will sit out his second straight contest after being scratched from Sunday’s lineup for precautionary reasons with left leg tightness. It’ll be Kyle Manzardo at first base on Monday night in his absence.
Source: MLB.com
CLE • 1B
6 months ago
The Guardians didn’t want to take any chances with the quick turnaround on Sunday morning following Saturday night’s contest, so Santana will take a seat for precautionary reasons. It’ll be Kyle Manzardo taking over at the cold corner in his absence.
Source: Tim Stebbins
CLE • 1B
7 months ago
Santana also went 3-for-5 in the first game, so it’s safe to say this is his best day of the year so far. The homer off Brad Lord was his fourth and gave him 13 RBI through 34 games. He raised his OPS from .632 to .679 today.
CLE • 1B
7 months ago
Santana got the Guardians on the board first in this one with his 345-foot (101.5 mph EV) solo shot off of Chris Bassitt in the second inning. The 39-year-old first baseman also delivered a run0-scoring single in the sixth inning. He’s off to a slow start at the dish this season, slashing just .229/.306/.330 to go with his three long balls and nine RBI. His days of fantasy relevancy are in the rearview mirror.