The Guardians have reunited with a longtime veteran of the organization, as Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the club is in agreement with first baseman Carlos Santana on a one-year, $12MM deal. The deal comes on the heels of the club reportedly agreeing to a trade that sent first baseman Josh Naylor to Arizona earlier this evening.
Santana, 39 in April, is a veteran of 15 MLB seasons who made his big league debut with Cleveland back in 2010. A catcher early in his career, Santana eventually moved to first base and has been defined throughout his career by phenomenal plate discipline. His walk rate has never fallen below 10.5% in a season across his lengthy big league career, and his strikeout rate surpassed 20% just once back in 2011. The one-time All-Star has spent ten seasons in Cleveland and will now suit up for an eleventh in year 16 of his big league career.
A career .251/.368/.450 (121 wRC+) hitter with the club, Santana has seen his bat decline somewhat since he last suited up for Cleveland back in 2020. He’s played for five teams over the past four seasons, including the Guardians’ division rivals in Kansas City and Minnesota. Santana has been more of a league average hitter in those stints away from Cleveland, hitting a collective .224/.320/.392 (99 wRC+) since he last played for the club. With that said, 2024 was a bit of a rebound season for Santana as he slashed a solid .238/.328/.420 (114 wRC+) in 150 games for the Twins while playing strong enough defense at first to earn his first career Gold Glove award. What’s more, even in his down years Santana has continued to hit well against left-handed pitching with a 125 wRC+ against southpaws across the last four seasons.
It’s hard to imagine the Guardians committing $12MM to a longtime face of the franchise coming off a three-win season just to make him a platoon player, and Santana surely figures to be the club’s regular first baseman in 2025. That leaves well-regarded youngster Kyle Manzardo, a top-100 prospect prior to the 2024 season who posted a 98 wRC+ in his first taste of big league action this year, likely relegated to part-time role with appearances at DH while occasionally spelling Santana at first base. With that said, Manzardo’s presence offers the Guardians some insurance against Santana’s age catching up to him as well; pairing the lefty-swinging youngster with Santana’s switch-hitting bat that has long crushed lefties figures to be a solid way to get value out of the first base position even if Manzardo doesn’t take a step forward and Santana finds himself unable to replicate his excellent 2024 campaign.
Notably, Santana’s $12MM salary for 2025 is identical to the $12MM projection put forward by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for Naylor’s final year of arbitration eligibility. That makes Santana and Naylor a one-for-one swap from both a financial and team control perspective. Naylor (118 wRC+, 2.7 fWAR) was the slightly better hitter but slightly less productive overall in 2024, though the 11-year age gap between the two means he also projects better than Santana going forward. Even so, the addition of Santana allowed the Guardians to trade Naylor for right-hander Slade Cecconi and a pick in Competitive Balance Round B of the 2025 draft without losing much if anything in terms of on-the-field production for 2025.
That sleight of hand by the Guardians had the side effect of taking two more names off of a crowded first base market that has rapidly begun to thin out in recent days. Naylor and Santana are joined in having found their 2025 homes recently by Paul Goldschmidt, who signed with the Yankees on a one-year deal earlier today, and yesterday saw Christian Walker land a three-year deal with the Astros. Pete Alonso is the top free agent available at first base and remains on the market, with players like Anthony Rizzo, Josh Bell, Justin Turner, and Mark Canha still available in the lower tiers of the market. The trade market has fewer options who are clearly available, but Nathaniel Lowe of the Rangers, Yandy Diaz of the Rays, and LaMonte Wade Jr. of the Giants are all at least plausible candidates to change hands.
Plot twist
Solid signing, Guardians! $12 million is more than I expected but well worth it. ANot to mention, adding a gold Glover compliments their attempts to upgrade the rotation nicely. Overall, just an intelligent signing by a team with a clear strategy.
You don’t have to rub it in. /sarc
I’ve been listening to morons attempt to rationalize the Goldschmidt signing all afternoon. As a Yankee fan watching Cashman misallocate funds for what feels like the millionth offseason in a row, this hurts me more than you could ever know.
I wish the Giants had signed him,especially at that price. How can you be unhappy with a guy like Goldy for one year?
@Dank
What makes you think there “miscalculations” rather than just a difference of appearance between their actions and your opinion? Fans act as if Cashman can dictate what the other side accepts or where they may prefer to play?
With all due respect, their hasn’t been a single article stating the Yankees offered a contract to Santana or Turner or even a trade proposal for Mountcastle. We know indisputably that Cashman made no serious effort to sign a lower cost, higher floor alternative. In that scenario, what the player would have decided is irrelevant because we know our GM’s laziness precluded any possibility of signing them in the first place.
You will eat those words!
How exactly does Santana have a higher floor than goldy? Santana is a below 800 ops guy for his whole career but you’re talking about him like he’s some stud
Who won the AL gold glove for first base last season? Who had the better strikeout and walk rates last season? I suspect you’ll avoid answering the questions. I’m not misrepresenting Santana as a stud so much as you and the other clueless hordes are attempting to negate the steep decline Goldschmidt is indisputably in.
The one stat based argument for Goldschmidt I’ve heard is that “he hit better in the 5 and 6 holes” and even that relies on a grand total of 113 PAs last season.
The apologists for this signing need to stop lying to themselves.
I’m the biggest Santana fan in here. Many thought he was finished when Pirates signed him. At 12m not as big a fan as past years. Goldschmidt has same floor and higher ceiling. I’m also the biggest Goldschmidt fan here so no biased.
Goldy had to have a down season just to reach how avg Santana has been his whole career. You’re going off one year and it’s laughable.
That’s a nice attempt at spin but one season’s worth of stars still carries more weight than pure nostalgia.
@dank
I’m 100% positive that the media is unaware of every conversation had between GM/Agent. Maybe he had a conversation and didn’t like the terms the player sought or maybe the player didn’t want to come to NY? To call Cash lazy is crazy considering all that he’s done so far this off-season. I guess some opl win never be satiated. That’s more to do and I’m sure they will.
Nice try, but Bob Nightengale had no trouble reporting on the talks that Santana and the Yankees had:
clutchpoints.com/mlb-rumors-yankees-carlos-santana…
What he didn’t report was any sort of contract proposal because nothing of the sort ever occurred. I can’t wait for the explanation of how a player can reject a non-existent offer.
@dankyank LOL. Ya should submit your resume to Hal for Cashman’s job.
You should try making an actual argument in favor of Goldschmidt instead of relying on nostalgia and appealing to Cashman’s authority. I won’t hold my breath…
Goldy is fine so long asits understood he is likely to be about league average
YOOOO! my man just used Bob Freaking Nightengale to try and back his argument! You do know he is the LEAST credible “insider” in the business right? And that’s he’s NOTORIOUS for making false reports then having to delete them or walk them back later?? Just ask Mets fans like myself. That’s hilarious, I have no skin in this Goldschmidt/Santana debate just couldn’t resist seeing someone use BOB NIGHTENGALE to try and strengthen their argument. That’s pure gold, my night has been made. Thank you.
Here is my argument, I like Goldschmidt better. I could Period that, but here’s more:
I’ve always been a fan, had him on numerous fantasy teams.
I thought his “steep decline” was overblown. I like his career numbers better than Carlos’.
High possibility his signing gets Nolan to wave his no trade clause.
I’ve never been a fan of Santana. Again fantasy plays a part, but you talk numbers a lot and that’s all about numbers.
So today, I got a favorite player on my favorite team which I’ve been a fan of since the early 80’s. I’m happy about it.
My GM obviously liked him better, too.
We good? Because it’s honestly subjective anyway with many ways to view it. And yours, for sure, is not the end all, be all.
And, for heavens sake, let’s just give this forum back to Guardians fans.
Thats a lot of truth. But dnt forget your GM liked him based on the price tag more than all else. Its unlkkely you will find any impact everyday player for that price in free agency. I do agree he beats santana for sure
Well yes, but they were about the same price so not sure that makes a difference here per se. Great price on both tbh! Probably two of best of the off-season money wise.
Also Goldschmidt is the way better signing. Even with the gold glove defense value of Santana he barely produced more WAR then Goldy and it’s the first time ever Santana was more valuable. Goldy has the way stronger track record which you have to know and has been far more productive recently last season aside. Goldschmidt also hit much better the second half of the season and is going to a very hitter friendly park. The man won the MVP 3 seasons ago. Goldschmidt had MUCH higher exit velocity and hard hit rate. Santana had slightly more luck with BABIP and even with that and Santana “supreme plate discipline” Goldschmidt still managed to have a higher BA. Goldy had more XBH. Outside of the singular gold glove season and the SO & BB rates it’s hard to find an argument that Santana was even better last season then add it Goldy has been 10x more valuable throughout his career and it’s a no brainer. I hope your somehow impossibly right though and the Yankees suffer from this signing.
That’s fantastic. Sounds like you’ll have no trouble proving Santana rejected a tangible offer from the Yankees. And if the entire report is false, that means both the talks and the offer never existed and thus, couldn’t logically be rejected.
But thanks for taking the time to put your ignorance on full display in a public forum. Truly your finest hour.
If your reasoning is merely the guy comes of the books it doesnt exactly bode well
The disappearing walk rate and escalating K rate. The defense that is now merely league average. I hate to break it to you but a further decline is at least as likely as a rebound.
It’s a one year deal, dank, I’m willing to take that chance. The Yanks are way better than the Cards, so it’s highly possible this also reinvigorates him. This shouldn’t be a make or break acquisition for you especially when you’re arguing to get Carlos Santana who’s a year older who could face his own decline just merely based on age!
I’ve given my kudos to the Guardians in separate comments on this signing, thanks.
Nostalgia isn’t fact based, the MLB isn’t fantasy baseball and Goldschmidt isn’t the player he was in 2022 or 2023. Why do the apologists for this signing insist on projecting loudly after they’ve demonstrated their inability to understand simple concepts? The complete denial of reality is getting nauseating.
Santana *could* enter a decline whereas Goldschmidt is already in a steep one. So we both agree, Santana is the better player at this point in time. I’m sure you’ll keep finding a way to dance around the obvious.
As Cashman had conversations with both players’ agents and the Yankees paid $500k more for Goldy, it’s plain that the team viewed him as the better player for 2025. Time will tell if this was a wise or unwise decision. But the idea that this decision is the result of laziness on Cashman’s part is kinda an absurd take. I look forward to seeing what the team does at 3rd base next, as I’m hoping for an upgrade at that spot next.
Santana was a full 1.7 wins better than Goldschmidt, yet cost half a million less. Only someone willfully obtuse would claim “great prices on both” when the cost per win is so widely divergent. Just admit what we all already know. Revisionism is not a good look for you.
No I’ll just stop arguing with someone that has a complete lack of respect to others with differing opinions. Peace out!
You’ve already admitted that your preference for Goldy was based on emotion and having him on some past fantasy team. If you’re going to assert that he’ll be productive in 2025, try offering some supporting evidence.
I don’t think you realize how nauseating it is watching someone relying entirely on nostalgia and past production as their argument attempt to position themselves as the voice of reason. Seriously, get a grip.
He is a first ballot hall of famer. He does not need to provide u with more evidence to think goldy can give some value, get over it. Theres a chance goldys numbers go up a bit. Age implies neither santana nor goldy will improve, so its a boring debate. Likely neither player has much left, but maybe some league average production
Look at how you talk, man. You started this whole tirade calling your fellow fans morons as if you somehow magically are smartest fan in the room. And you’re telling ME to get a grip??? lol, bro, I’m beyond the voice of reason compared to you.
But, you asked for an argument, my argument was thus, and as a fan that’s more than enough. I didn’t assert anything because I cannot pretend to predict the future and neither can you. We have no choice, BUT to look at the past.
And downplaying fantasy when it gives me better insight regarding numbers on more players than most average fans is silly.
But more importantly, again, my advice to you is to learn how to converse with respect for others. My emotion and nostalgia might make you nauseous, but you’re exactly the kind of fan that makes people hate the Yanks.
We can debate this until we’re both blue in the face but the past for the proponents of this signing conveniently circumvents the 2023 and 2024 seasons. That’s called selective memory.
Furthermore, the team didn’t acquire the moniker “evil empire” by repeatedly signing role players, but from a well documented track record of trying to sign and trade for the biggest name on the market. That strategy is a hallmark of the Steinbrenner family and it’s failed more often than it worked.
I really hate to break it to you but opposing fans route against us because of the big signings and acquisitions based on name recognition, which are the polar opposite of what I’m arguing for.
Make of it what you will buy I’ve seen no evidence to suggest that even the defenders of the Goldschmidt signing believe their own arguments.
The move makes sense but its not something that makes the yankees better really, just fills the hole and retains flexibility
@dank
Maybe it’s something way simpler than he wanted to retire with the team that drafted him and he was with for most of his career? Like I said, I preferred Santana but maybe he didn’t want the Yanks?
By all accounts a contract was never offered so there was no opportunity for Santana to turn down the Yankees in any definitive sense. Again, I blame Cashman for precluding any possible signing.
Obviously a free agent is free to make any decision he wants but the Yankees were effectively never an option since our GM never advanced past the talks phase. Trying to look solely at a player’s actions while ignoring every other preceding development is just lazy and dishonest.
I’ve given Cashman full credit for the moves that were indisputable upgrades (the Williams and Bellinger trades) but rounding out the lineup and accumulating depth have been his weaknesses for a very long time. In light of those shortcomings, I have zero hesitation believing he took the path of least resistance and offered a deal to the biggest name.
If I’m being totally uncharitable, Cashman is acting at Hal’s behest and opting for name recognition as a way of giving the perception the team is spending more than it really is. Perhaps that’s conspiratorial but I find it unfathomable that this team spends so much only to go into every season with numerous holes in the lineup.
@dank, you okay, bruh?
I’m surprised you’re not more apoplectic that the Yankees didn’t get Naylor…10 years younger, about the same price as Goldy, and the Diamondbacks got him for a SONG. That 27 year old left handed power bat would play just fine in Yankee Stadium. That is where Cashman dropped the ball.
How is this good? The goal in trading naylor was to cut cost right? Didn’t naylor make 10mil? We spent more money for what? Maybe I have my contracts mixed up but doesn’t seem like we have a plan at all othrt than be cheap. Trade kwan while we are at it cause you know they won’t sign him to an extension
No. The goal of the Naylor signing was to get something out of him before he left in free agency. We used to have Naylor. Now we have Cecconi and Santana. Is that better? We will find out. If the Guards can turn Cecconi into something, then the answer is yes.
Dude has an era of over 6.5 and a negative WAR from what I saw. So we got garbage and paid more for it. Santana is a 1 year deal as well so I mean you got a more expensive 1 year deal
Cleveland didn’t even look at his era or war as it would be completely useless to do so.
Speaking of mention mlbtr didn’t even feel like he was worthy of a honorable mention.
Seattle is really missing on everything this year. Looks like Justin Turner for them
Reunited and it feels so good. Reunited and it’s understood.
Just saw this on X…twitter or whatever you call it
Just call it xwitter.
Or twix
Interesting. The price is the same. Naylor’s more bat than glove, Carlos is more glove than bat, but aside from summing to a similar value for 2022–2024 the chances are much, much better that this is Carlos’s collapse year, while Naylor is the one of the two with a chance to taken a step forward in 2025.
It’s also not as if CLE’s staff is noticeable for producing an inordinate number of balls in play. They K’d more than the Dodgers did, for example, and presumably they’re not bringing Carrasco back in 2025. It’s more like…
“Cleveland Treads Water, Manages to Pick Up Mildly Interesting Lottery Ticket., Doesn’t Think Manzardo is Ready”
In context it’s a poor way to spend $12m when Cleveland could have hung on to Giminez for another year for $10.6 and just let Manzardo play. That’s a much better way to add wins than this swap of modestly talented 1Bman.
@SashaBanksFan That’s better.
I refer to it as twixter.
The M’s have put themselves in a tough spot
Now that is done…… come on Justin Turner!!! You’re our only hope!
Lots of trade options for M’s. And they are willing to pay as evidence of Randy trade.
JT should make them pay extra now.
You mean tight wallet.
We can always bring back Ty France. No worries
Please Nintendo, buy back the team.
Wanted Turner anyway.
Sure you did Batman.
Triston Casas incoming
Betcha they start the season with Raley as the full-time 1B. Because, you know, cheap.
That’s was fast
And expensive…
Slamtana is back!
You know what they say, third times a charm
More Mariner fan freak-outs in three, two, one…
Yep
Stevil…I’m not freaking out…yet.
Welp! We suck.
Giving up on the off-season already?
$12MM is quite expensive for a guy like this.
Oh stop it. Six 1b had a War of 3 or more. Vlad, Harper, Freeman and Perez are 1-4. Santana was tired with Walker who just signed for 3/$60. Giving Santana, fresh off a gold glove deal, is a good deal. It’s one that I wished the Yanks had made.
Same exact player as previous years but older yet salary doubles is interesting. Teams severely undervalued him.
This I’d agree with. He got hosed on salaries the past couple seasons.
12MM is like….1.5 WAR max in “expected value”. Its really not much
12 mill is nothing nowadays. Open your mind. Start the reactor.
No it is not. He has more than earned it.
I still do not get people who comment that basically every player is too extensive
He put up a WAR value that in pure equivalency should pay him about $17.5M to $25M for one season.
$12M is extremely fair and a fair price for the team to pay.
How do you value players and why do you want wealthy ownerships to pocket an extra $5-$10M from players who are producing the very product that generates that revenue?
I rarely ever say a player is overpaid. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad for him that he got $12MM. But 1st basemen are always cheaper than any position player. He is 38 or 39 years old so at this point you have to bank on regression. In my opinion he is worth about $7-$8MM. It is very risky with a player of his age, especially considering they just trade Josh Naylor who is going to make the exact same money.
I have tried to type this a million times but pop ups keep messing up the comment section (I’m on my phone) anyway—
Santana has been underpaid for a couple of years now, anything cheaper than Naylor’s arbitration price is a net gain and Goldschmidt set the market at $12.5M with NYY, which is cost effective by any team’s standards on a one year deal.
It’s just market price and a fair one at that.
Smooth move by cleveland
Carlos will be back to his evil ways with his old tm
I see you Carlos Santana with Rob Thomas.
I’m commenting because I just read the Naylor article and refreshed my feed. Upgraded defense at 1st and a pitcher/draft pick for same price.
This is awesome!!!! 40 year old Justin Turner is the only option you have left Dipoto. I’m dying laughing right now! Not that hard to be a GM is it for teams to fill their needs immediately??? But not the super dummy Mariners. When you fans finally get it???
You sound upset
I’m becoming much more amused than upset I have already planned for a new team to root for because I knew they would do nothing this off-season so far it’s coming to pass
I think you should reminisce on all the good times in mariner history. That’ll cheer you up. Think of all the world series they’ve been to. The pennant winning celebrations. Think of record setting 2001 performance.
If that doesnt help, just do what i do. Drink a liter of jack daniels by yourself in a corner until you black out
Key words, “so far”. The off-season is far from over.
It’s over trust me…Dipoto will fail AGAIN! And you know my ideas are exactly what this team needs I could do his job easily
“I could do his job easily” say so many fans who have no experience doing the job.
I don’t understand the issue. There is still plenty of time and there are still plenty of options.
It’s almost like some fans forget that ultimately the players decide where they’ll play… blaming Trader Jerry (or any FO, really…) for NOT signing somebody seems like an inadequate perspective.
They have built the park for pitching no hitters want to come here! Don’t you understand that???? Plus they are cheap!! Bad combo! Kirby Cal Gilbert are definitely not signing here
It’s low hanging fruit for folks who are too lazy or who lack the brain power to formulate a better insult. Like people who tell me my screen name checks out.
It’s possible you might be either Dipoto or Hollander because the screen name fits..
That’s correct, we cannot force free agents to come to Seattle. There are many reasons they don’t want to come to Seattle…some things we can change (dimensions of the ballpark, the batters eye) and some things we cannot (always Top 3 in amount of travel required, the marine layer.) We have to trade to get players here so we will see what happens.
Dipoto and Hollander are not responsible for setting the team’s budget or controlling how far the fences are from home plate. Fundamental understanding of what a baseball front office executive may help to redirect the misguided anger that you have toward these people.
Arranged marriages not allowed you mean
Ok let’s hear some of your options..I think they don’t have many at all..Polanco might be back..
You try having several holes to fill and be told you have 20 million to do it. Ownership ties his hands financially. Thankfully Jerry can draft very well. With this ownership group draft/develop/trade is the only chance seattle has of being good
Prospects are just that…Prospects!!!!
@hllywdjiff You know that every MLB player, every star, every superstar was a…. prospect?
And what percentage of them become above average major league players?
What percentage of what. You have to define what you mean. Top 10? Top 100? Top 1000? College players? Etc. I drafted soto in a keeper league before he even hit top 100 when only top 10-15 prospects were rostered. Its more predictable than u think
It should be pretty clear that he’s talking about all prospects collectively.
And he’s right.
It also goes without saying that the better the prospect, the better the chances of success.
Seattle has exactly two players on the position side of their roster that they’ve developed into successful major-leaguers and one of them is arguably a generational talent.
Fans being skeptical of the Mariner organization being able to develop bats is fair. But maybe we’ll see some (more) hitting prospects traded to address their needs.
Josh Naylor in 2024: .243/.320/.456; 118 wRC+; 2.3 fWAR
Luke Raley in 2024: 243/.320/.463; 129 wRC+; 2.3 fWAR
They need a platoon partner for Raley. His numbers were even better the last two months of the season when they started playing him regularly vs. RHPs. He had a 181 wRC+ August through September.
I’d be more worried about third, second and DH. And yes, Turner still makes sense for the DH and 1B vs. LHPs role. They would still need a fourth outfielder who can DH (not named Haniger).
Trades are viable option.
Wow, what a move 39 years young
I wonder why the Yanks went with Goldschmidt vs trying to trade for Naylor or signing Santana? Seems they were both acquired for very little or similar. Santana is the better glove and is a switch hitter. Would’ve been an easy opportunity to add a lefty bat.
Look at his splits.
Someone suggested the Yankees trading for Ryan O’Hearn. It’s the same reason that they shouldn’t.
I doubt the Orioles will deal with us???
Goldschmidt the better player bigger star doesn’t cost prospects.
Yanks want Alonso.
To backup Goldy.
Dang dude! That headline somehow escaped my field of vision today. I need to get with the program.
For the money, the Yankees did much better with Goldschmidt.
Right. The Lesser player in steep decline was their best move. Related to Cashman, are you?
Abraxas!
I prefer Santana II
Like Zeppelin the first seven Santana albums are masterpieces.
The live Moonflower is tremendous.
Not sure I understand trading one year of Naylor at $12M for a reliever and a draft pick and then signing Carlos for $12M.
Save no money, get no more years of control, don’t get anyone valuable back. Could’ve traded Naylor at the deadline if out of contention. I’ve always like Carlos Santana. I just don’t understand this.
Simple … Santana is better.
Both are good 1b. Both cost the same. Why not get prospect and draft pick?
They picked up a draft pick and an arm, and for no extra cost now have a better defensive 1B who’s likely to be just as productive at the plate.
Naylor has a $14.2 million salary for 2025 so the Guardians actually clear $2.2 million while adding a win and a half in value. Plus, the gold glove defense further aids their attempts to improve the rotation.
Cleveland really hit a homerun with this series of moves.
They add a win and a half in 2024 performance but Santana is also going to be 39 next season. Currently projections favor Naylor for 2025 so it’s not so clear cut.
@Renotribefan Worst of all? Given the trivial return the Guards got for Giminez they could have kept him one more year at $10m, turned 1B over to Manzardo, and gotten more wins, as many as 5 more, versus dumping Naylor and picking up Santana.
He’s signed through 2029, they can’t just keep him for one more year.
I hope Alex Bregman is forced to play in Mexico with Bauer next year.
What? That’s ridiculous. You shouldn’t mention Bregman in the same sentence with low-life Bauer.
All Bauer did was what most young men do: he put it in crazy And he paid an extremely high price for doing so.
Cherington fails again. Great for Santana!
Cherington got his 1b for 11m less. Nutting approves.
Not quite ready to let Manzardo take over for 1B? One year of Santana at 12 million plus the return from the Naylor trade, Guardians pounced quick. Cleveland always finds ways to develop their players, I really wouldn’t sleep on them.
May never be ready for Manzardo
@Acoss1331 Don’t forget the opportunity cost of dumping Giminez’s $10m salary for Santana’s $12m salary.
Terrible set of moves by Cleveland.
Well, now I gotta ask: What was the point of the Naylor trade? Naylor was gonna cost $12M and they didn’t get much in return for him…
That said- in a vacuum, this is a solid price point and signing.
Good for Santana. He earned this payday.
Both 1b. Both same price. Get prospect and draft pick. If you can get something of value trade a player before free agency.
I really enjoyed his short stint in Minnesota. Guy can still play.
Hope he has a good third stint in Cleveland!
And the dominos continue to fall.
After Goldschmidt it was just a matter of time before deals started happening.
The Gold market dictating assets lol
More like a fool’s gold market
I was thinking similarly. Goldschmidt’s $12.5M w/ NY also set the market quite firmly, hence this nearly identical price point for Santana, a very similar player in quality, age, veteran presence, etc.
What 1st baseman are left? Alonso? Turner? Mets the only team left that will spend , Alonso’s market is gone isn’t it?
Mets will re-sign Alonso.
I hope so
Good for Alonso. Santana to mets would have been great.
Try to get Alonso at a bargain if not trade for 1b.
Not the M’s?
Trades for Yandy Diaz or Lowe from Texas. Seems like Alonso’s leverage is evaporating. That might make him more open to a shorter deal with another team like Seattle or Detroit.
I really do not see alonso going to a small market in the hopes his numbers are better nxt year and that the money will be there next year. Good for him if he does tho, but he culd do it in NY why go to the midwest or the mariners
I agree unless it is a short term overpay.
Yea but i think mets would be willingt do “short term overpay.” Cohen and stearns love that
Alonso to WASH OR to KC as part time 1B and DH, Oakland?
LAA has a young LH 1B Nolan Schanuel so Not there
He could hit a lot of HRs in COL but be eliminated from playoffs
by June so I doubt he goes there
Please not to DC. They need more pitching before it is worth spending big FA dollars.
Cleveland:
“Goodbye.” 🙁
“Welcome back!” 🙂
This is a highly intelligent signing by a front office with a clear vision. While $12 million is higher than I expected, the gold glove defense will help to further improve the rotation. Not to mention the team improves by roughly 1.5 wins while clearing out another $2.2 in payroll space. This is how competent front offices operate.
He’s has one gold glove in his whole career, and will be almost 40. It’s more likely he sucks than it is he wins another one.
@dankyank On the contrary. CLE managed to move 4-7 wins making $10m in 2025 salary for next to nothing in trade. They’re idjits.
Evidently Goldy was the 1B log jam.
That was quick.
I’m having trouble making sense of this. You trade a younger/better player for a pitcher with a 6.66 ERA, then you sign an old guy hoping to get a productive year out of him-which also costs you more money. Puzzling
So you pay him more than naylor got paid… Way to go idiots smh
Because he is similar value and they wanted a trade return.
Deep 1B market with players at multiple price points available in FA and trade. So of course that’s the market that GMs clear first.
Cool. Those dominoes dropped quick!
Pete Alonso Micheal Conforto’d himself!
Interesting. The price is the same. Naylor’s more bat than glove, Carlos is more glove than bat, but aside from summing to a similar value for 2022–2024 the chances are much, much better that this is Carlos’s collapse year, while Naylor is the one of the two with a chance to taken a step forward in 2025.
It’s also not as if CLE’s staff is noticeable for producing an inordinate number of balls in play. They K’d more than the Dodgers did, for example, and presumably they’re not bringing Carrasco back in 2025. It’s more like…
“Cleveland Treads Water, Manages to Pick Up Mildly Interesting Lottery Ticket., Doesn’t Think Manzardo is Ready”
In context it’s a poor way to spend $12m when Cleveland could have hung on to Giminez for another year for $10.6 and just let Manzardo play. That’s a much better way to add wins than this swap of modestly talented 1Bman.
The team simultaneously cleared $2.2 million in salary and improved by a win and a half by swapping out Naylor for Santana. Plus, the gold glove defense will have a spillover effect on a rotation they’ve been trying to upgrade all season. Not to mention Gimenez’s steep offensive decline and the glut of young, defense first middle infielders that were already on the 40 man roster.
Chernoff did a fantastic job by simultaneously creating payroll space and improving their overall level of talent.
I am kind of surprised Santana got more than about 8M.
Good for Him!
I wouldn’t be. A 2.5 WAR player in 2024, even one turning 38 is going to make a salary at least 50% of his 2024 value
……as an afterthought, after today’s news where does this leave the Boras clients? It looks like the chairs are filling quickly and the music is about to stop.
that’s what I’m wondering too…
Will the Mets bail out Pete? Will they take him on a one year pillow contract?
Don’t do it, Stearns!!!
I’m interested in what Cleveland sees in the pitcher they acquired. Knowing them they’ll turn him into something pretty good.
If so, this combination of moves is really nice.
Amazing low walk rate is a great foundation. He used to hit high 90s max. Great slider so could end up in pen and be good great. But with some change up improvement could be a starter. His 2024 role and home away splits are interesting. Sss but interesting.
Traded Naylor and replaced him with a corpse.
OYE COMO VA ! His song plays on.
Naylor traded, Santana to Cleveland, and Goldy to Yankees… Mariners better sign JT before there’s nobody left…
How is almost 40 year old Santana better than Naylor??
Elite defense and strong at bats. Doesn’t have to be better. Doesn’t have to be the same. Just has to be close enough. They wanted prospect draft pick.
Again, Scott Boras is overplaying his hand with Alonso. Goldschmit, Walker, and now Santana. Alonso is not going to be happy
It was Pete who got greedy and had no idea how the market valued bad def 1Bmen turning 30.
Pete didn’t do his homework and it may cost him $50m, even $100m.
In essence, Cleveland traded Naylor for Santana, a former high draft pick SP prospect with MLB experience, and a comp pick. Thats a big organizational win long term.
But the real question is does this make the Guardians a better team in 2025…and thats iffy. Santana had a very good season in 2024, but it was far better than anything he had done since 2019. What’s the odds that he can repeat it at age 39?
Cecconi is the wild card. He has never shown anything but potential, but he is the exact type of pitching acquisition that Cleveland targets. While the thought is that the Cleveland pitching factory automatically makes an acquisition better, that isn’t always so. Several young starters have failed once obtained by the Guardians…Peyton Battenfield, Connor Pilkington, Tobias Myers, the first Logan Allen.
But IF Santana has a season generally equal to Naylor, Arizona could have just signed Santana, while saving a pitching prospect and a high draft pick.
A word on Carlos Santana…
He was the undisputed leader of the Cleveland clubhouse in his last go around there. He is beloved there. He may be the only player in baseball that could replace Naylor without the team being upset.
One thing to consider is that the signing helps fill the RH-hitting void of not having David Fry through the first 3 months.
However, no longer is there a cleanup hitter. Not currently, anyway.
@CATS44 By ignoring the Giminez salary dump, a projectable 5 wins in 2025 for $10m, you’re all leaving out the most important part of Cleveland’s offseason.
With the light, light prospects they got for Andres, Cleveland’s FO could have easily traded him next offseason. He’s prime age and his deal only runs through his age 31 season. He’s an infinitely better addition than, say, Bregman, and he’s been worth more the last 3 years by bWAR than Kyle Tucker—and he’s 2 years younger.
The biggest need for Cleveland this off season was starting pitching.
They signed Bieber for $10 mil this season and an additional $4 mil due next year.
They traded Gimenez $10 mil this season, and got a viable MLB SP in return, plus two mid level pitching prospects. That’s not a light, light prospect package, esp when you throw in the fact that Toronto takes on nearly $100 mil in salary.
Now the Naylor-Santana combo.
Cleveland’s off season so far has been basically cost neutral, and they have gained three MLB SPs, two SP prospects, two CF prospects, a comp draft pick, and about $90 mil in future financial flexibility.
The cost for all this has been the best defensive 2B in baseball, two middle relievers, and whatever the difference there is between Naylor and Santana.
Cleveland no longer has a rotational depth problem.
It’s interesting to see how other teams operate (I’m a Blue Jays fan). We’ve seen a bunch of teams in recent days make pivots when something happened that affected them, usually within a day or two – Boston getting Crochet, Yanks signing Fried and Goldy, Astros signing Walker, D-Backs trading for Naylor, Guards getting Santana. The Jays don’t get someone they chased, and they just sit around and don’t pivot. It’s like they’re hoping something will just fall into their lap.
You got a first hand look at how other teams operate when Cleveland dumped Gimenez on you. They got his best cheapest years you get the expensive ones and hope his speed doesn’t fall off. They trade Naylor for nice arm and draft pick and instantly replace him. Front office master class.
In my opinion, Alonzo is to blame for Alonzo not signing just as Bregman could be blaming himself shortly for not taking the money offered from the team they want to go to vs the highest bidder. Bregman to the Yankees, Redsox or Mets (maybe Tigers) if the price falls but where does he actually want to be? Same question to Alonzo, if he wants to be a Met, then what’s the best offer they will give him? If I’m Bregman I’m asking the Yankees for their best offer and then comparing years and annual $. I wonder if he realizes the best chance for a World Series and to stick it to Houston is to join the Yankees. All told, he would be a great addition and fit and is the remaining piece to complete the Yankees off season. I tip my cap to Cashman and Steinbrenner for what they have done so far and think they should go get Bregman on a 4yr max deal as icing on the cake if possible.
That’s completely absurd.
Neither is worth what they allegedly asked. Either settle for less, hope some team is stupid and pays what you want, or get left with no chair.
From sometime around June 23- to may/June24 Naylor was top 10 players in the game. He cooled off big time in the 2nd half.
Was Cleveland gonna get 30/100 from him again? Will Santana/Manzanardo/Noel give them that? Maybe…
Theoretically Slade just needs to be better than 3War to “win” the trade.
So I’m guessing trading Naylor got them a SP and pick, but moreso opens a spot to get Mazardo a mentor more than anything in Santana?
Guards fans, would this be a correct read on these two moves?
Is Naylor not a good mentor? Santana certainly is. If they thought Manzardo was a sure thing they wouldn’t block him. I haven’t seen him since Tampa but I wouldn’t bet on him being as good as Naylor Santana. So unless they improved him he’s just a guy.
I’m just trying to find the reasoning behind the two moves. I thought they really liked Manzardo. I guess it’s really just get something out of Naylor because Manzardo is their future, but they aren’t quite ready to fully commit to him yet.
Manzardo might be just a guy. I haven’t seen him since his Tampa days but I wasn’t impressed then. Tampa knows what they are doing a bit right? You need injury depth. Dh. Service time is important. Not need to rush when a Santana is just sitting there. Santana Naylor same. So they picked up a nice arm and draft pick for free. Cleveland does this all time. You have to if you want to win as a small market.
I looked at his data. Hit hard hit is fine nothing exciting. Walks way too low with his hrs. K’s way too high his average. Defense can’t contend with Santana unless something crazy happened. Slow slow runner. He can be a lower strike out high average 20 hr 1b only. Didn’t hit LHP. If Santana goes down hey awesome to have this guy sitting here. As other players get more expensive in arbitration or you need to sign a pitcher hey glad we have this guy. But if trying to go all in on winning this year Santana is the guy you want. Rest days, pinch hitting, dh. There’s playing time hopefully.
I think its more that Cleveland plans on seriously contending and NEEDED starting pitch, not only for opening day, but for depth over 162 games and playoffs. They’ve added three.
They are happy with Manzardo, but without a veteran presence to go with Ramirez, Thomas, and Kwan it would be much more difficult to contend.
As it now stands, Cleveland will have at least six starters that are either rookies or have no more than one full year in MLB.
Black Magic Woman back in Cleveland for a third and final(?) Tour of duty
The competition for Rizzo must be intense.
Where are the Pirates fans who were pining for any number of signings this off season, with signing Santana looked upon as the most viable option?
Here’s a suggestion to MLBTR staff: do some digging to reveal logical conclusions as to Bob Nutting’s profit margins. Then examine the moves made this off season. Keep in mind the Pirates had a pitching staff that would be the envy of most clubs. All ownership and the GM had to do was add some pieces to guys like Reynolds and Cruz
Instead, they’ve subtracted
Is the idea to tank? Is the idea to scuttle the ship for even more profit?
Is there a worse owner in all of sports? A worse GM?
Pirates filled 1b with what’s his name.
Might be worst owners. At least you never see or hear from Nutting. When you do it’s like seeing bigfoot.
Tons of worse gms. Cherington is upper middle of the pack. Just Pittsburgh needs top 5.
Can’t wait for the Mariners to sign Richie Sexon…
Back to back to back 1B deals.
Alonso next?
Alonzo leverage is dropping as more and more teams drop out of 1st base market. They may have over played his hand.
clearly the writer didn’t do his due diligence; naylor is an injury waiting to happen and because his defense is so poor his WAR for 2024 was only 1.5 while santana posted a 2.5 WAR in 2024. so not only could the team get more WAR out of the 1B position for the same money, cecconi is the centerpiece of the deal. arizona doesn’t have much history developing starting pitching while CLE is one of the best in MLB at doing so. if the coaching staff can teach him a two seamer to replace the indifferent four seamer the way they did for kluber, he’s at the very worst a middle of the rotation starter under control until 2030. and the FO loves pitchers with the kind of spin rate cecconi has shown.
They were worried about how fat and outta shape Josh was by end of season.