9:27 am: Santana’s suspension has been served and he is eligible to return to the active roster, per David O’Brien of the Athletic (Twitter link).
8:05 am: The Braves are acquiring right-hander Edgar Santana from the Pirates in exchange for cash considerations, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). Pittsburgh designated Santana for assignment earlier this week.
A few years ago, Santana looked to have solidified himself as a reliable bullpen arm in Pittsburgh. In 84.1 innings between 2017-18, he managed a solid 3.31 ERA/3.77 SIERA. Santana didn’t miss many bats for a reliever (21.0% strikeout percentage), but he was quite good at avoiding free passes (6.8% walk rate) and racked up ground balls at a decent 45.6% clip.
Unfortunately, Santana suffered a torn UCL and required Tommy John Surgery in October 2018. The timing of the procedure cost him the entire 2019 season. Santana was then hit with an 80-game PED suspension last June, keeping him out of action for all of last year’s abbreviated season.
Nearly three years removed from his most recent game action, it’s unclear whether Santana will be able to recapture any of his former promise. He does still have a pair of minor-league option years remaining, so he’ll give the Braves some additional bullpen flexibility if the front office is sufficiently impressed with his current form to keep him on the 40-man roster. Atlanta freed up a 40-man spot (and thinned out its righty bullpen depth) in the Orlando Arcia trade earlier this week, so no corresponding move is necessary to accomodate Santana’s arrival.
Who?
Not really sure why AA wants a guy on the club with a PED conviction.
Didn’t stop AA from signing Melky in Toronto.
@wajgh. Good point. I’m just tired of the PED stuff especially. Guys keep doing it. Whats wrong with protein shakes eating good and working your behind off?
I hear you Crime Dog, and as a Jays fan it pisses me off McGriff isn’t in the HOF because of guys using. Prior to the PED explosion (and during) he was hitting 30-35 bombs a year and routinely snubbed from ASG appearances because every team needed representation or McGwire and his .190 average would still get voted in. Not gaining national attention might’ve hurt him in the hype department. Fred was the real deal.
I think the dangling of the carrot is the reason. A player would rather take the risk of being caught to cash in on millions rather than not do it and just settle for a few seasons around league minimum.
@ wajgh. Yeah I understand how these guys are thinking. I think McGriff will eventually get in by the veterans committee. I like some of the young Blue Jays offensive players, I think the team has a good future. What are your thoughts on Kenny Lofton dropping off the ballot his 1st year eligible?
With Kenny it was not a surprise but I thought he deserved a closer look. I remember having a conversation back in 2008 that Lofton, supposedly, turned down an offer to play for the Rays. Not sure if that was true but I recall it was not a substantial offer. But that conversation ended with “Lofton needs a season to help his Hall of Fame chances” and we both agreed. I believe his candidacy would have been stronger had he played.
Also think Albert Belle deserved to stay on longer than he did. Attitude aside, obviously.
This. Not just for McGriff, Murphy and probably a few more who won’t make it, but for all the pitchers who were abused by the ‘roiders’, and all the young guys who never got a realistic chance because roiders were playing into their late 30’s with no downturn.
The number of careers and families potentially affected by these cheaters will never be known, but I get so tired of apologists acting like no one was being hurt.
UGA Murphy had a near-decade run of excellence. Hit about 33 and ran out of gas. We know he earned his stats legitimately.
A lot has happened over the last 30 years. Careers have certainly been ruined.
Ok…. interesting I guess. Curious why we make this move? I get low risk, cheap… but do we need him? I get he was one of their top 30 prospects once upon a time, but idk. Guess they are hoping to recapture a bit of magic.
Can’t hurt to stock BP arms.
See: Jackson, Luke.
Can’t hurt to stock BP arms. It can hurt to use them.
I don’t know what the $ amount is on cash considerations, but I can’t imagine it’s more than $100,000? It’s basically like placing a $1 bet. If you win, awesome. If not, no big loss.
Usually around $25-50K. In other words, same price for what a waiver claim is
Exactly the type of move a WS contender should be making. Scrap heap pick up. Ugh.
Chill dude. It’s April.
Only the 9th at that.
And it is the love World Series contenders make cuz it’s a smart move.
Move
Just about every contender realizes your 40 man is just as important as your 26. If you have a chance to buy low on a depth piece that could help for even a two week stretch you do it. They aren’t bringing this guy in with the hopes that he’s an important late inning cog. Find a contender that doesn’t have a “scrap heap” guy on it
Wrong! Pirates should of kept him. Throws hard and throws strikes.
Yeah, but does he still throw hard? Can he still throw strikes? It’s been over 2 years since he last pitched.
At least he is on a playoff contender now.
How about instead of wasting cash on a guy the Pirates don’t even want , use it to bring back Shane Greene.. damn it AA
Substantial difference in cost. You’ll want those dollars at the trade deadline.
Technically correct….exactly. It’s amazing how many people know so little about baseball and the business of it.
I know the business side.. they were one of the teams that made $ last yr do to bring owned by a parent company. And they cut substantial payroll.. deadline won’t matter if they are out of it by then because of the patchwork bullpen
Cut substantial payroll? Nice try.
Atlanta didn’t make money last year. They got killed. They lost all the revenue from The Battery and stadium that they just build with financing.
Just about every contender realizes your 40 man is just as important as your 26. If you have a chance to buy low on a depth piece that could help for even a two week stretch you do it. They aren’t bringing this guy in with the hopes that he’s an important late inning cog. Find a contender that doesn’t have a “scrap heap” guy on it
I always thought some young minor leaguer should legally change his name to Cash Considerations and then be involved in every single one of these types of trades.
Or PTBNL, but that might be a little awkward if he got married. Plus what do you name the kids?
Waiver and Claim??
Obviously you would name the kid “Later Jr”
Just a small move AA likes to make. Nothing more.
Pittsburgh Pirates owner’s favorite transaction…. one for cash considerations. He would trade all his players for cash considerations if he was allowed. Pause and think if cash considerations is more important that putting a competitive MLB product on the field. Another 100 loss season in the works for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021.
Another 1st pick then ! Things will pick up for Bucs. I’m hoping for 4th or 5th place. Maybe next year chance at wc.
This site should be bookmarked by every Bucs fan: tankathon.com/mlb
PIT has first pick in a year rich with upper-level talent. Many predict Rocker, but Leiter is my pick. TEX is in a prime spot at #2. DET at #3 could get the best prep in SS Lawler, though TEX could bypass one of the Vandy arms going after the hometown kid in Lawler. DET with another arm would be insane.
I think more are leaning Leiter more recently
Considering this is April and quite a few BP arms have already gone down across the league, makes you wonder what 30 teams are seeing in Greene. No one has picked him up. No one.
I like this move. Chris Martin is now out for a while and Santana was a good relief pitcher that was used in high leverage situations with the Pirates. I don’t know how effective he’ll be after the Tommy John and Performance Enhancing Drug suspension, but why not grab him, allow him to get some reps in and see what happens?
Plus minor options remain. Worth a gamble.
At this point, I really wouldn’t know what to expect from Santana. He hasn’t pitched in over 2 years.
The Pirates must have been expecting what they saw in ST a few good outings then get blown up. and have a 10+ ERA as a result. Can’t be good to have TJ then miss a year due to a PED suspension and your now 29.
Where is Shane Greene why can’t they just sign him?
At this point I don’t know that I’d want Shane. Whoever gets him is likely going to get a bitter pitcher who isn’t ready to pitch.
Why does this have to keep being said. It’s not as easy as “just sign Shane Green”. He’s asking for too much Money
Shane Greene, I like him and I think he did a good job for the Braves. I think there are two reasons he has not been signed, one, he has lost some of his stuff and two, he is asking to be paid for high leverage innings and teams view him as a low leverage pitcher.
if Edgar is healthy and his performance wasn’t a result of the PED then Braves got a steal. apparently the pirates feel those where large concerns.
He’ll probably wind up getting 30 saves and 100 K’s in 60 innings with the Braves.