The Arizona Diamondbacks made a flurry of moves in January, including acquiring Nolan Arenado from St. Louis in a trade that could pay off if they’re able to also bring in Carlos Santana, according to a report.
Chris Cotillo reported that the Diamondbacks are interested in Santana, who will turn 40 during the 2026 season and made his MLB debut in 2010 with the Guardians, spending nearly 11 seasons bouncing in and out of the lineup.
Nothing is official yet, but according to Cotillo, the Diamondbacks are also exploring another player in a competitive market: “As reported last night, Diamondbacks are in on Carlos Santana as a free agent 1B target. They’ve also talked to Ty France, per source, though France has a robust market.”
How much would a player like Santana cost?
Santana is a veteran who last season was under a $760,000 contract with the Cubs, making him a potentially affordable option for the Diamondbacks, who want someone in the infield who knows how to play solid defense. It seems the team still sees that value in Santana.
Last season, Santana posted a .219 batting average across 124 games between Cleveland and Chicago, mostly with the Guardians. He totaled 91 hits, 49 runs, 11 home runs, and 54 RBIs, a season similar to 2024. At least he’s had two consecutive years with 100+ games, something he hasn’t declined from since 2020, when he played just 60 games.
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With another veteran alongside Nolan Arenado, the Diamondbacks could have a more protected infield. It’s still unclear exactly how Santana would be used if signed, but he could likely fill in during late innings or a similar role.
