The Cleveland Guardians have finally made a tough decision with one of their most beloved veterans.
They placed first baseman Carlos Santana on outright waivers.
That means that any team that’s interested in the 39-year-old will have to take the entirety of what’s left in his contract.
He signed a one-year, $12 million contract, so that amounts to roughly $2.1 million for the remainder of the season.
Santana hasn’t been designated for assignment yet, so he can still play while he’s still on waivers.
With that in mind, team insider Paul Hoynes believes the Guardians could designate him to the minors or release him:
“If Santana, 39, clears waivers, the Guardians could outright him to the minors, a move Santana would probably reject to become a free agent while keeping what remains of his one-year, $12 million salary. It’s more likely that the Guardians would release him so he could have a chance to sign with a contender for the stretch run,” Hoynes wrote.
If someone claims Santana, the waivers will be irrevocable, meaning that he will have to take his talents to his new ballclub.
Then again, given his age and the way he’s performed this season, it’s hard to believe anybody will seriously consider making a run at him, even if he’s always been known for his offensive prowess late in the season.
So far, through 455 plate appearances, he’s posted a .225/.316/.333 slash line.
He’s not hitting the ball hard, and with the Guardians’ offensive struggles, the need for change became painfully obvious.
He’s also posting the second-highest strikeout rate (18.9%) of his career, although he continues to draw walks at a very solid 11.4% rate.
He’s still an excellent defender, though, but that hasn’t been enough to keep Kyle Manzardo off the field in recent weeks.
Santana will always be a fan favorite, but he’s not what the team needs now.
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