The Guardians have positioned veteran first baseman Carlos Santana on outright waivers, Ken Rosenthal and Zack Meisel of The Athletic report. The 39-year-old switch-hitter is taking part in on a one-year, $12MM contract and nonetheless has about $2.13MM of that sum but to be paid out.
Any group that claims Santana would wish to tackle the whole lot of that remaining sum. Santana has not been designated for task, which means he can proceed to play whereas he’s on waivers. If he goes unclaimed, the Guardians don’t have to assign him to a minor league affiliate or take away him from the 40-man roster (although they might select to take action). If he’s claimed, the waivers are irrevocable, and Santana will head to the claiming membership. In 455 plate appearances this season, Santana is hitting .225/.316/.333 along with his typical model of elite protection at first base.
Although his protection stays wonderful and Santana remains to be drawing walks at a premium 11.4% fee, his general offensive output has been about 14% worse than common, by measure of wRC+. This season’s 18.9% strikeout fee is the second-highest of his profession and his worst since method again in 2011. Santana is averaging a career-low 87.5 mph off the bat and has struggled significantly from the left facet of the plate, hitting simply .220/.311/.325 in opposition to right-handed pitching.
The Guardians have fallen down the standings with a current 1-9 skid. Cleveland now sits six video games again within the American League Wild Card chase (plus an much more daunting 12.5 video games out within the division).
With that swoon and the position of Santana on waivers, they’ll flip the web page on the 2025 season and provides extra taking part in time to youthful, controllable first base/designated hitter choices like Kyle Manzardo and just lately promoted high prospect C.J. Kayfus. The 25-year-old Manzardo has popped 21 homers whereas hitting .231/.313/.453 in 415 plate appearances this season, whereas the 23-year-old Kayfus is hitting .220/.281/.424 in his first 63 turns on the plate as an enormous leaguer.
If one other membership does declare Santana and his remaining wage, he’d be postseason-eligible by advantage of that incontrovertible fact that he’s in his new group previous to Sept. 1. If he goes unclaimed, Cleveland may launch the well-respected veteran in hopes that he’ll catch on elsewhere and be capable to take part in one other postseason run.
