The Arizona Diamondbacks are on the hunt for a first baseman and are considering Carlos Santana as a potential fit. Reports from Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com and John Gambadoro of 98.7FM Arizona Sports indicate that Santana is just one of several options the team is exploring. However, no deal appears to be imminent.
Santana brings a wealth of experience, having spent 16 seasons in Major League Baseball. His leadership qualities and defensive skills are appealing to the D’Backs. He won his first Gold Glove award in 2024 and finished that year with a solid performance: a .238 batting average, .328 on-base percentage, and 23 home runs.
But his performance dipped sharply in 2025. With the Guardians and Cubs, he posted a disappointing .219 average, struggling with a power outage that saw his slugging percentage reach a career low. Despite having a decent walk rate of 11%, it wasn’t enough to offset his struggles at the plate.
Interestingly, Santana has faced a noticeable decline against left-handed pitchers, an area where he had previously excelled. The D’Backs’ roster includes Pavin Smith, a left-handed hitter who could pair well with Santana, allowing him to focus primarily on facing southpaws. This could be a perfect opportunity for Santana to regain his form.
Entering his age-40 season, the big question is whether he can find a resurgence like he did in 2022 and 2023 after some down years. Santana’s defensive skills might give him an edge over other first basemen available right now.
Recent trends indicate that many teams are leaning toward valuing flexibility and defensive capabilities. A study by Statcast revealed that effective defensive first basemen are becoming increasingly critical in today’s game, where every play counts. This reinforces Santana’s value, especially for a D’Backs team that may only need him in a part-time role.
As the off-season progresses, the Diamondbacks will weigh their options carefully as they look to bolster their lineup for a competitive season ahead. Only time will tell if Santana can be part of that plan.
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