Twins to Sign Veteran Free Agent First Baseman Carlos Santana

[EGFTShaw]

 Much better than the Gallo signing last year.

I said we had one hitter and 2 outfielders between Gallo/Kepler at the beginning of the season.

It soon became just Kepler, Gallo was that bad.

I have always been in the camp of Young Guns.  See what you got, then go get what you need.

I am seriously glad this was the most we spent on this slot regardless of who it is.

If I am trading for a pitcher, I want a guy who is at least a Number 2 and can battle for the number 1.

[Whitey333]

I think it's a decent stop gap move for one year.  After all he had 23 Homer's and 86 rbi last year.  At the same time it would be nice to let our young players prove whether or not they belong in the big leagues.

[singlesoverwalks]

11 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Rhys Hoskins has an OPS over .900 vs left handed pitching. Justin Turner has crushed them too since he's been the Justin Turner we know.  And they have been two extremely reliable all around hitters the last half decade. They would have been no brainers and very affordable if the Twins wanted another first baseman. 

And if they really wanted to be cheap, Severino, Camargo, Isola and Prato destroyed lefties last year. Like .900-1.000+ OPS's. Why go to another rebound vet when we see this fail every single year? This was only done for the optics, and if he hits like he did 2020-2022 it's going to hurt the team because they get too stubborn trying to prove their free agent signings were legit. Which this one is absolutely not.

The other argument for Santana is that he's a good defensive first baseman. Kirilloff gets injured a lot; we might need a qualified first baseman. He's significantly cheaper than Hoskins and Turner. Hoskins got a two-year contract; Turner was like $13.5 million. And Hoskins is a lousy defensive first baseman.

Still, I, like you, would totally have taken Hoskins or Turner over Santana, but obviously they have a budget and they're sticking to it. I'm not saying the budget is good. The Pohlads should spend more money on the team. But that's been the case for 30 years, and for some reason I'm still rooting for them. It's sort of interesting to see how they spend their relatively meager salary dollars.

I can't say I would count on that list of prospects do too much next year. Or ever. I hope I'm wrong!

So, basically: if they've got $5.5 million to spend on a bat, spending it this way makes sense.

[Tttaz_Twins]

First off, you couldn’t have a better clubhouse guy and mentor to the younger hitters. 
Second, he’s someone that gives you defense and reliability in the lineup,  as well as quality AB’s. He’s Plinco with more experience.

I can see him bringing the best out in several of our young hitters, teaching them and, IMO, giving this lineup a shot in the ass, which they could’ve used earlier last year.

[stringer bell]

Santana is rated good/very good as a defensive first baseman. That is a plus despite him playing almost all of 2024 as a 38 year old. I wouldn't be comfortable with Miranda/Severino at first base in the event of a Kirilloff injury offensively or defensively, so I don't mind this move. 

If, like Gallo, he's in the lineup after struggling for weeks, then I might want to change my tune, but for now I think it is a decent low cost, low risk move. 

[stringer bell]

I will say that both veteran guys they've gotten this week (DeSclafani & Santana) for a total of $9.25M should not be given too long of a leash. It could be that players within the organization can supplant them, but like Wallner, it might not be until the second half of the season. 

[stringer bell]

Lineup vs. RH starter: Julien 2b, Correa ss, Lewis 3b, Kepler rf, Buxton cf, Kirilloff 1b, Santana dh, Wallner lf, Jeffers c. I'd say that's pretty deep.  Not sure who plays and who sits out versus lefties, but probably insert Castro and Farmer somewhere. Two of Julien, Kepler, Wallner and Kirilloff sit. 

[2wins87]

2 hours ago, stringer bell said:

The team will now need to take someone off the 40-man roster. Duarte?

My guess is Bubba Thompson who they claimed off waivers a few weeks ago.

Hope to pass him through and stash him in AAA.

[RaoulDuke]

This years Gallo move.  Lets see if we can hit on a late career vet on the cheap.  They have played with this in multiple variations at different price points. 

Thome was an A+ awesome signing worked out great.  Cruz was an A+ awesome signing, everything went right.  Donaldson was a much bigger signing and he was not great then eventually very bad.  Gallo hit some dingers occasionally and played good defense but was a black hole otherwise.

There are some historical attempts at this as well Boone/ Bautista come to mind that did not work out well.

Santana is this years model.  For me he is a pretty decent gamble at 6 mil per year.  Fits in with a Kiriloff platoon/ DH spot if it goes well but on a contract that can be ignored if he doesn't produce.

[DocBauer]

Bad in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Nice little resurgence in 2023. But at 38yo we're supposed to believe he can do it again?

Not really crazy about this.

Still, good 1B, good clubhouse guy, can probably at least help against LHP, and doesn't mean the team feels forced to depend on Miranda. (Coming off surgery and a really bad season and has options left to work his way back). And only 1yr and a little over $5M can't get too upset.

Don't feel good if he's forced to do more than just be a part time player. 

Now, with a TV deal close to being knocked out, go get another bat.

[Mike Sixel]

Yuck. 

[2wins87]

A league average bat at 1B/DH does not bring impact to the lineup. It brings depth but that's it.

I'm not upset with the signing, just thoroughly unexcited.

Like others, I hope the front office has learned to cut bait if he falls off a cliff, which can happen fairly regularly to 38 year old hitters.

[Mike Sixel]

So, the backup CF is really Gordon or Castro? There is no fourth OF on the roster? Or is there still room for another hitter?

[chpettit19]

Per Gleeman, Santana hasn't topped a .730 OPS against righties since 2019. His resurgence last year got him to .727. A 103 OPS+ in his resurgence year isn't very exciting. Uninspiring is probably the word I'd use here.

When you surge back to league average as a 37 year old I'm not going to bet on you being a huge piece as a 38 year old. Short side of a platoon at 1B/DH doesn't feel like a huge hole filled. 103 OPS+ is not someone I want to "factor into the middle of the lineup" as Nick suggests. Against righties he's a bottom of the lineup hitter at best.

I've always loved his approach at the plate, and I'll definitely welcome a guy who's going to help the team's miserable K rate. This putting the payroll back where it was with Polanco while the team knows more or less what their Bally deal is worth (according to reports) sure feels like they've maxed out the budget. I hope to be surprised with more moves, but this feels like more or less the squad that's heading to Florida in a couple weeks. We shall see.

[SaberNerd]

Definitely not the most exciting move, but its only 5M.  Helps the lineup against LHP, and if Kirilloff gets hurt he gives at least a decent option until Miranda/Lee/Severino show that they are ready.

[KirbyDome89]

"Santana, who turns 38 in April, showed serious decline in some key hitting metrics last year, going from a .372 xwOBA in 2022 (88th percentile) to .305 in 2023 (23rd percentile). His exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit rate all fell off the table."

I remember watching him with KC and thinking he was toast. No chance he gets the Gallo/Andrelton Simmons treatment right? Yeesh.....

[KirbyDome89]

3 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Santana is rated good/very good as a defensive first baseman. That is a plus despite him playing almost all of 2024 as a 38 year old. I wouldn't be comfortable with Miranda/Severino at first base in the event of a Kirilloff injury offensively or defensively, so I don't mind this move. 

If, like Gallo, he's in the lineup after struggling for weeks, then I might want to change my tune, but for now I think it is a decent low cost, low risk move. 

By weeks you mean months right?

[UK Twin]

I remember being somewhat underwhelmed by the Solano signing last year.  I'm going to wait and see how this plays out this time.

[RaoulDuke]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

So, the backup CF is really Gordon or Castro? There is no fourth OF on the roster? Or is there still room for another hitter?

This is what scares me most.  Buxton in CF is awesome and also unicorn dust, don't ****ing build your roster around it.  They finally did that last year with MAT but now the replacement is Castro/ Gordon.

[CRF]

Oye Como Va! At this point...Carlos the musician, is WAY better than Carlos the ballplayer. This Carlos is done. Much better ways to spend $5 mil. At least we didn't bring back Gallo. 

[pierre75275]

I don't see Santana getting 600 at bats this yr. I think the plan would be 350-400 at bats and maybe he can stay fresh and produce at a better rate.

I still think the they go out and get another starting pitcher. I think they are done with position players.

[Doctor Gast]

I don't buy the smoke & mirrors with Nellie Cruz. I'd rather give the job to Miranda to improve his stock. When Santana doesn't perform they keep doubling down on him like they do to every failed project. Hindering the Twins progress.

[LewFordLives]

I would rather they signed Solano.

[tcttejtf]

This is not a bad deal. It gives minor league prospects another year to develop and his clubhouse leadership will help young Twins currently on the major league roster. Management is playing the odds with only a five million dollar payout, but Santana's odds of being more productive than Gallo at less than half the price are pretty good.

[Johnny Ringo]

It's like giving your kid $3 at the candy store. They are going to spend the 3 bucks whether they like the candy or not. 

[Hubie29]

Who knows? Maybe they signed him for late inning speed. He would have been tied for fourth in SB on the team last year with 6. 

[IndianaTwin]

4 hours ago, UK Twin said:

I remember being somewhat underwhelmed by the Solano signing last year.  I'm going to wait and see how this plays out this time.

Waiting is not allowed on the internet. One must make a strong and immediate opinion and then yell it loudly.

/s

[jorgenswest]

The roster appears set. I am looking forward to spring training.

[Nashvilletwin]

To paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen: “I watched Nelson Cruz, I cheered for Nelson Cruz, and you sir, Mr. Santana, are no Nelson Cruz”.

So let’s hit pause on the Cruz comparisons. No one should expect that type of production/result from this signing.

On the other hand, he’s probably no Joey Gallo either - less expensive, can hit from the right side of the plate, and should strike out less.

Seriously, a lot of great comments on the TD today on both sides of the fence, basically supporting that the signing is more or less a “meh” addition.

Personally, and I know I’m in the minority in this, but I felt our bigger hole was a power RH outfield bat. I was hopeful that, with Lee on the way and someone like Soler added to the OF, a platoon of Julien and Kiriloff at 1B and Wallner and Kepler in RF against lefties made more sense.  But Lee is just not proven enough to put enough faith in that strategy - thus the need to bolster first with a better RH bat. 

I was hoping for more with the Polanco savings and Bally visibility. DH is now most certainly going to be a “rotating/ keep fresh” type of role vs. what Polanco would have brought. That appears to be the Twins’ philosophy on that matter.

Maybe there will be an additional move, but, if not, this signing is understandable, yet underwhelming. Yeah, just “meh” is probably the best way to put it.

[Major League Ready]

My initial reaction was yuck but Mike Sixel took that one.  My thought was that they were sitting at $114M in payroll before this move so they had $15-20M to spend assuming the TV deal goes through.  There has to be someone better and I would rather give Miranda or Severino a shot because they provide an upside that would impact the team for years.

After giving it some thought, Santana did have an .807 OPS against LHP last year which is much better than Kirilloff and Julien.  He is also a better defender than Kirilloff / Miranda and Severino.  It definitely won’t hurt to have another guy on the team that will demonstrate how to take good Abs.  Rocco loves to play match-ups and Sanatana will improve the team in a platoon role if he can maintain the level of play he produced in 2023 but that’s a fairly big if at age 38.

It's also possible he is the only guy they could get on a 1 year deal that was worth having.  They have 11 that will be arbitration eligible next year and Pablo gets a $13M raise so I can understand if they were only interested in a 1 year deal.  I was hoping for Soler.  Maybe that's still possible.