TUESDAY, 7:42am: Santana and his representatives are weighing offers from several teams, Hoynes reports, though it isn’t certain if he is close to accepting a deal.
MONDAY, 5:04pm: The Padres have indeed discussed Santana, but “it seems they’re still focused on” Hosmer, according to Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link).
1:51pm: The Rockies are also showing some interest in Santana, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post tweets. Colorado has a clear opening at first base, though the team has indicated its top priorities lie elsewhere.
10:27am: Cleveland’s top extension offer to Santana was three years and $36MM, Jon Heyman of Fan Rag tweets, and the organization would “likely go higher” now that he’s on the open market.
SUNDAY, 9:00pm: The Indians made Santana a contract offer, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes reports. While the offer wasn’t taken, the Tribe have been informed that they will get a chance to counter any offer Santana receives from another team that he considered acceptable.
6:32pm: Carlos Santana is already drawing quite a bit of interest this offseason, and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer adds the Rangers and Padres to the list of other teams (including the Phillies, Red Sox, and Mariners) already linked to Santana on the rumor mill.
Texas is known to be focusing on adding pitching this winter, though the team’s offense also lacked some of the well-rounded attack of past years. Santana would clearly be a big upgrade in the first base/DH hole left behind by free agent Mike Napoli, who struggled last year in a sub-replacement level season. Santana’s arrival would bolster the Rangers’ lineup against the possible departure of Adrian Beltre after the 2018 season.
Installing Santana at first base would have a ripple effect throughout the Rangers’ lineup. Joey Gallo would have to return to left field, with Nomar Mazara shifting to right and Shin-Soo Choo being limited to DH duties. Top prospect Willie Calhoun had been mentioned as a possible candidate for regular DH or corner outfield duty, though Texas might want to give him a bit more seasoning rather than expect Calhoun to immediately contribute to a team that hopes to contend.
Previous reports seemed to downplay San Diego’s possible interest in Santana, though it could be that the Padres have since considered Santana for what seems to be an increasing desire to sign a first baseman. The Padres have also had interest in Eric Hosmer, with the logic being that the 28-year-old Hosmer is young enough to still be productive in a few years when San Diego is theoretically finished with its rebuild. Santana, by contrast, turns 32 in April, and while the slugger hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, he wouldn’t have the luxury of the occasional DH rest day while playing for a National League team.
Adding a first baseman would necessitate shifting Wil Myers into a corner outfield role, though the Padres may see that as an acceptable tradeoff for adding offense. The Padres finished at or near the bottom of most major offensive categories last year, so a proven above-average hitter like Santana (who hit .259/.363/.455 with 23 homers over 667 PA last year and has posted a 123 wRC+ over his career) would add some much-needed pop to the lineup.
Santana rejected the Indians’ qualifying offer, and thus the Rangers and Padres would each need to surrender some compensation to sign the first baseman. Texas would give up their second-highest draft pick and $500K of international signing bonus money, while San Diego would only have to surrender its third-highest draft pick.
Much better idea for the Pads than signing Hosmer. Santana and Cozart would cost a fraction of his price. Could probably even add a couple starters and a bullpen piece all for less than Hosmer alone would cost them.
Cozart and Matt Adams.
when we face lhp put myers at 1st and someone in LF who bats right handed (pirela).
Trade Hand and Solarte, sign an innings eater to support the young staff, and call it an off season.
The only reason I say no to Matt Adams is because there is too many dominant Lefties in the division, he would get exposed if he played regularly against Kershaw, Wood, Bumgarner, Ray, Etc.
That’s why I think Santana fits better, he could play everyday and could move Myers to LF which would give the lineup more length. Add Cozart, trade one of the 2B/3B logjam guys to the mets for a starter. I’d prefer Spangenberg for Harvey, Gsellman or Lugo.
Use the rule V to grab either Pentecoast or Burdi
Sign one more veteran innings eater like Chris Tillman and then I would call it a wrap.
Doing all of the things mentioned above would cost a little less than 90 million dollars, a lot better than spending 135 million on one player (Hosmer) alone.
You did not just suggest trading Spangenberg for a rental
Hear me out.
The Padres traded Alonso to the A’s to get Pomeranz. Fixed him, 6 months later he is traded for the number 20 overall prospect in the game.
Fast forward to now. You trade Spangenberg who is caught amongst a logjam at the position who has had trouble staying healthy in career to NYM for Harvey an interesting prospect.
6 months later after Balsley fixes Harvey, you turn around and flip him for far more than Spangenberg would have ever gotten by himself.
It’s a gamble that can be made when you have a lot of depth at one position.
Meant to say Harvey plus an interesting prospect from NYM to SD for Spangenberg alone.
Pomeranz had even more club control than Alonso. Not even a remotely good comparison. We can just sign Harvey a year from now and keep Spangenberg or trade him for someone who actually comes with enough club control to be relevant. Say what you want about Spangenberg. He’s good enough that you don’t just give him away for nothing and trading a player for a rental when you aren’t contending is essentially giving him away for nothing.
If I’m Preller and another GM calls to ask about me trading for one of their rentals I’d tell them “Nah, I’d rather just wait a year and then sign him away from you. Goodbye!” and slam the phone down.
Yeah you’re right, didn’t think about how much club control Pomeranz had at the time of that trade. I rest my case.
we see them maybe 30 games a year combined.
its not difficult to put myers at 1st that game, put a rh bat in LF and bench adams
nor is it difficult to let adams get 3 abs against rhp and put myers at 1st if they bring in a lefty.
If Hosmer is set on the 8/$200 million that Boras floated, then you are right. If Hosmer ends up signing for 6/132 or an AAV of $22 million, then Cozart and Santana would be 50% more over the next 3 years.
No
Padres playoffs next year…mark my words
With what pitching ?
All the good pitching is in double a or lower
They have guys like Rea and Erlin coming back who aren’t terrible options, plus Baez will be up this year with Lamet and Perdomo…Bullpen is A+.
Wishful thinking, but the Twins did it so why can’t the Padres
Why can’t the Padres? You answered your own question lmao that pitching staff is NOT playoff worthy
The twins did so in a much weaker division. The west was and is going to be a much better division next year than the central was last year. Add onto the fact that Cardinals and Brewers are also situated much better. Lamet is a legit and Perdomo is a decent option. But the Padres just aren’t there yet.
Erlin has never been good
Rea has flashes but never been solid
Lamet can be really really good but has troubles keeping it going consistently
Richard is a innings eater; he has his moments, but mostly in the past
Wood? Lol
Like I said all the good stuff is I’m double a or below
The bullpen sucks
I’m not going to lie
Once Hand is traded it’ll implode again
Perdomo shows promise but he isn’t special
So that’s the padres
Now, insert la’s pitching
Dbaks pitching
Even the giants pitching
Padres are not in good shape
They’ll be better, but that division is brutal. There are 3 playoff contenders for sure, and the Giants could be much better, too. Hard to figure the Padres beating out two of those teams AND the Cards and Brewers.
Regardless of what team you are talking about, if they need a 1B, Santana is the guy. His deal will be much shorter than Hosmer, he has more power and he gets on base.
And is more consistent
Matt Adams.
Keep the pick, put myers at 1st when we play against a lhp and to give myers time off from the OF, and toss someone in LF.
Idk why we are even looking at Hosmer and Santana.
For the small market Padres, Adams may be the best answer of all.
We don’t need a 1B. Only reason to sign one is if we got an impact player. Not an Adams.
Well, none of those options are impact players. None of them will be in the running for the MVP or put up 5 WAR seasons. Your Padres need another bat period. They were at the bottom of the barrel in hitting in almost every category. If they move Myers to LF that is a huge upgrade. If they sign Adams he will be a slight upgrade over Myers at 1B. Maybe its because I am not a fan of the Padres, but I don’t see why that would be a bad thing.
Have you seen adams line against rhp?
he is an impact player. that kind of production would be welcomed in the line up, which he could get 3 abs a game and double switch myers to 1st and someone to LF when the opponent brings in a lhp and its his turn to bat.
I really like Adams and if you are the Padres that seems to me to be the kind of guy you would want. Not much money, good bat, good glove and you can platoon him and DH him and hopefully keep him on the field all year.
When he plays he has an impact bat vs RHP. The problem with calling him an impact player is he can’t hit lefties and he can’t stay healthy.
I agree. One player isn’t gonna win it even though I think Hosmer is a better palyer than alot of people make him out. The stats don’t lie… But santana and cobb..few relievers… Cozart or maybe even freddy galvis through trade and the padres could develop nicely.
Come on Cards…
He can play the national anthem on guitar, too!
So can my nine-year-old nephew
Lol
I’d like to see them add Cozart, Adams, and a couple relievers.
At first I was against Adams, but reading and thinking about cost he might be our best option.
Yet you think they will make the playoffs?
I sure wish the Orioles weren’t stuck with Trumbo. Santana and his LH bat + OBP would be a big improvement.
Even with Santana, it’s gonna be a Baltimore rebuild after 2018, but it’s gonna start mid 2018. Or, you better hope it’s going to be a rebuild.
It’s going to be ugly in Camden Yards for a while. Angelos won’t sign IFA, he won’t allow any long-term deals for top pitchers, we can’t develop any pitchers internally, Jones, Machado, Britton, and Brach will be gone at the end of the season, the farm is awful.
Peter Angelos is now 88 which is a blessing and curse at the same time. At 88 he is not likely to continue meddling endlessly with the team for obvious reasons, but at the same time he’s not likely to agree to a rebuild since he may not see the fruits of that process years down the road. If the O’s are at the bottom of the division in June, he’ll have some hard choices to make.
Once again, he’s not going to the Pads. Why would anyone want to go there and waste any usefulness they’d have in San Diego? Preller is a joke. The extension they gave him, is also a joke.
You’re a joke. See how dumb I sound? You don’t know sheeit and neither do I about you
I wonder if he’s bias about his team and his gm?
How would I be biased about the team I root for, (the Cubs. They are not “mine” I don’t have any ownership stake) when I didn’t even say a word about the Cubs, nor did I say a word about their GM, Jed Hoyer?
Sooo
You do know your gm and your president were trained in San Diego right?
Biased and ungrateful
Well the Dodgers are mine so…
Oh you mean Theo and Jed, who originated with Boston? Yeah, they were trained in San Diego. If Hoyer was still there, they’d probably be good. However he’s not, Preller is. And well, they’re going to continuously inhale through a straw.
San Diego has on of the top Farm System that Preller built. So shut up.
Santana probably looking for a good major league team. Having a good system, means just that, still need to see if those players can compete in the majors.
He said shut up can’t you read?
If you look past your Chicago teams and actually follow the Padres closely, you’ll know that the team has a plan (spearheaded by Preller). Whether Santana or Hosmer should be a part of that plan, which I personally don’t like the thought of, is the real issue here.
Makes no sense
1b options could start moving fast. Those who need better make a move.
Indians, Rangers, Padres listed here. Cardinals, Rockies, Red Sox also interested in upgrades. Who gets left out?
Corazon Espinado
I can’t take the report seriously if it says the Phillies are in on him. Last time I looked, there was no DH in the National League. Tommy Joseph will be replaced by Rhys Hoskins so first isn’t available.
I don’t see the connection either. signing Santana would move Rhys to LF where he’s poor defensively, plus altherr,Williams and Herrera played solid down the stretch
Posturing. All part of the process.
Don’t like the fit in Texas. We need more pitching and a cf. Only way I see him being a possibility is if they find a way to dump Choo.
Amen. Unless a trade for Beltre is in the works, we don’t need a 1b/DH type. Every nickel we have needs to be allocated towards pitching.
You have DeShields
He should sign with boston, 4 years 68 million with an option. Just like Victor Martinez’s last contract. He could switch off with hanley at dh and first base. The fact that he’s a switch power hitter makes him perfect for their ballpark.
Padres must be so down on their disaster of a 1B Myers
Uh no, they just need better production from LF.
Myers moving to LF to create an opening at 1B is a better option lineup wise and defensively then signing a LF in FA.
You dont seem to think your comments through all the way before you post them man.
It’s a troll, that’s why it doesn’t think things through.
Myers stinks all the way around defensively especially so hiding him in LF is not answer
man
Then where are you going to hide him man? LF is where you hide them. First base too. His point was you can hide him in LF just as well as 1B but open a spot for a productive bat at first who also has a good glove
Well Myers in LF would be much better then him in RF and you are correct that may be what they have to do to open a spot for another productive bat. Its not ideal but they are not in an ideal situation. You are right.
That could work. Its not like Myers is such a terrific firstbaseman anyway and he should be fine in LF.
Myers has been healthy since moving to 1B. Moving him back to the outfield will probably make him injury prone again.
True but LF is not a lot of wear and tear. Putting him in CF a few years ago was crazy
I predict Santana will re-sign with the Tribe.
He certainly has the sincerest desire to return. I just hope that the club doesn’t low ball him to a point where he feels that he has no other option but to depart.
Rockies make more sense than the Pads at this point.
What is the big deal about Santana? .250 hitter, never drove in a 100, slow etc. Why a NL team would have any interest is ridiculous
I know right? We all know batting average and rbi are the best parameters to judge a players value. Plus, I need my corner infielders who produce runs to be FAST, not slow!
Ok. Tell me why he is worth 15 mil a year
He’s a 3 WAR guy. That’s worth $15 million in this market. Sort of tough to drive in 100+ when your”re leading off.
Be tough to find a more consistent offensive player the past seven years, while remaining healthy. Power numbers rate high, and his on base skills have always been in the upper echelon. His on base skill set looks like it won’t deteriorate either.
Haha VTA Dave. Good one. I love when people just look at RBI and do not even consider his spot in the batting order or acknowledge that RBI is dependent on runners being on base ahead of you that you cannot control
Great point. On base skills age very well. Like fine wine
RenoChris its because the stats you quote do not make the hitter. Check out his OBP with that average. He is a very productive hitter.
Baltimore should send Davis and either Brach or Britton to the Rockies for prospects. Davis would mash at coors and it also gives them a closer. Baltimore opens up payroll and adds some prospects. Mancini to 1st.
Please Dombrowski sign Santana not Martinez or Hosmer
I agree Santana would be the more effective and bang for the buck signing
I’m waiting for the rumor of Perdomo to the cardinals
That’d be funny to me
That would be funny. Take a guy in Rule 5 then trade him back. Similar thing happened to Tommy Kahnle earlier this year.
Lol
If Im a GM looking for power- Santana is my guy. He has a sustainable skill set with an offensive game based on power and walks (with very few K’s) and he is relatively inexpensive.
I could see him going as long or even longer than V-Mart.
Not in philly though
Their rebuild is about one year behind the padres and the padres have at least 2 seasons to go
In 2 years the padres will be 3 years to go. and in 4 years the padres will be 5 years to go.
You’re correct
Santana isn’t a good fit for Philly- I was thinking in terms of just any GM looking in the upper tiers of the offensive free agent market.
Santana would be a good fit for the Rockies
Padres will sign no free agent of any value, I tride to find a free agent at MLB level and could find none. Padres only get rookies and when they get close to free agent they trade them, just like they are looking to trade hands. They will fonish 2018 below 500 just like they do every year in last 7 years and will do same for next 7 years.
You sound drunk
You still sound like a troll dude
Santana would be a major upgrade for the Rangers. He could split time at first/D.H. And if they can sign J.D. Martinez and trade Choo they would have two power bats. Hopefully that will happen. And they can find a top of the line starter and stud bullpen piece.
A lot of times, you hear Hosmer catching a lot of crap. Lol But Hosmer has hit .290 or better 4 times, drove in 90 or more rbi 3 times, 178 hits or more 3 times – lifetime: .284 hitter, had a .385 obp last season..and won a gold glove. Now Carlos is a patient hitter…I would say he would do well in Colorado with that patience but in a market where Hosmer is going to get 130 million or more, id say at least 4 for 70 on Santana. If money is a factor in his decision, Cleveland won’t go that high. I don’t see Seattle going that high when they can use another starter. I see it down to Boston and Philly, and a mistake to move Hoskins to LF in Philly… Boston has the money and a fit for him. Can also hit DH down the road if needed.