Twins to Sign Veteran Free Agent First Baseman Carlos Santana

Ok, Martin is the RH outfielder option then?  I like it if for nothing else than the quality at bats from both side of the plate factor. 

Acceptable spending of the Polanco savings, I guess. I have read that each club that CS played for wanted him back, although he has moved through several in the last third of his career.

I am wondering if this is protection from another injury filled season for Kirilloff or if maybe it's a message to him that he needs to stay on the field. 

3 minutes ago, notoriousgod71 said:

Last good season in 2019. Makes sense.

2.7 WAR last year at first base is not nothing.  It's probably 6-7 mil for a good fit. 

Anyone remember when Santana came up as a catcher? Then they moved him to third base before finally making him a first baseman.

Not the move I was hoping for.  Hopefully this turns out better than I think it will.

Can't complain about the signing - he is a steady, professional hitter who has accumulated 35.5 WAR and added 2.7 to that total last year. You always worry when they get into their late 30s, but 2023 was, in some ways, ,an uptick for him. He will bring a slightly different approach to at bats, and that could be helpful. Let's hope he is another Nelson Cruz.

15 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Aw shucks, and to think about how if they'd only known about the awesome broadcasting deal a few days earlier they could have had Justin Turner or Rhys Hoskins instead.

Rotten luck in no way predictable by the organization. Better luck next year.

Though I'm sure the team won't have any hesitation to pull the plug on him in May should Miranda, Lee, Sevarino or Camargo prove to be a better option.

Last paragraph sarcasm...right

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

The update at mlbtraderumors.com now says Smooth will get $5.25M, about what they saved in the Polanco deal. 

I like that they added a RH bat to pair with Kirilloff and fill in at DH, but Santana isn't inspiring. He had a nice little resurgence last year that he'd do well to repeat, but at 38 you never know when his play is going to fall off a cliff. I do like that he doesn't strike out often, though I thought he took more walks than he does - seems to be my memory of earlier in his career.

I prefer him far more than Gallo's addition last year, and I have to bring this up again - Santana's 4 sacrifice flies from last year is more than Gallo has had in his entire career!

Pretty much takes Donny Barrels out of consideration.

On the position player side, adding a MAT or someone like him could happen, I guess. The largest hole in the position player side is a right handed hitter OF capable of playing center. Castro is a switch hitter and was pretty bad versus left handed pitching last year. Signing another OF would pretty much eliminate Gordon IMHO. 

2 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Pretty much takes Donny Barrels out of consideration.

He's this years Donny Barrels.  Upgrade!

4 minutes ago, wabene said:

If this is the big right handed bat, there are two things that will happen.

They are relying on in house depth for center.

They will use the new Bally's windfall to afford their new high upside starter addition! Lol

I don't expect the Twins to seriously pursue either Montgomery or Snell and I think that's the right call. I think free agent pitching is outrageously overpriced and unreliable. A trade for a younger starter might be possible, but I still think they start 2024 with what they have for pitching.