Should Red Sox Sign Former All-Star Slugger Carlos Santana?
It’s getting late early in the Boston Red Sox’s search for a power bat. Is it time for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow to consider an alternative like former All-Star Carlos Santana?
The 39-year-old has enjoyed a successful 16-year MLB career. It’s featured a pair of top-20 finishes in MVP voting, as well as a Silver Slugger Award in 2019 when he tied his career high with 34 home runs while setting a personal best with 93 RBIs.
Santana also is known for his eye at the plate. He’s walked at least 100 times in four different seasons, including 2014, when he led the majors with 113 free passes.
And Santana is more than just a big bat. He won a Gold Glove Award at first base in 2024.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Santana is not the answer to the Red Sox’s power problems. He hit just .219 this season with 11 home runs while splitting time between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Guardians.
But he did hit 23 home runs in both 2023 and 2024.
“Santana has always been able to get on base, though his numbers were down in his return to Cleveland last year, as Santana slashed just .225/.316/.333 before the Guardians released him in August, after which he latched on with the Cubs,” MLB.com’s Will Leitch notes.
“Santana is the active leaders in walks (1,330) and tied for 40th all-time; if he comes back and gets walked one more time, he’ll pass Hall of Famer Tim Raines,” Leitch adds.
Look, Breslow did his best to sign free agents Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso. Those were some big swings which would have reshaped the Red Sox lineup.
Breslow also is doing due diligence in trade talks with the Arizona Diamondbacks regarding slugging second baseman Ketel Marte.
But Santana would be a low-cost, high-reward gamble. He wouldn’t require a five-year commitment at $30 million per season. In fact, Boston could probably get him on an incentive-laden one-year deal.
If Santana finds his power stroke, the Red Sox have added a switch-hitting slugger who could platoon at first base with Triston Casas.
And if Santana continues to struggle, well, the Red Sox won’t be on the hook for a bloated contract which would weigh down the team’s payroll.
Breslow should continue to aim high when it comes to upgrading the Red Sox lineup. But what does he have to lose with rolling the dice on Santana?