Gold Glove First Baseman A Good Fit For These Teams
After winning his first Gold Glove at first base with the Minnesota Twins, Carlos Santana has become a free agent. Santana spent the 2024 season with the Twins under a one-year, $5.25 million contract. At the general managers meeting in San Antonio this past Tuesday, Twins President of Baseball Operations, Derek Falvey, wouldn’t rule out Carlos Santana’s return. While it would benefit the Twins to keep a player like Santana on their team, other teams are undoubtedly interested in Santana’s services. With 23 home runs, 71 RBI, and a slash line of .238/.328/.420, Santana can still contribute to a team, even at the age of 38.
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic says the Red Sox need a powerful right-handed bat in the lineup and lists Santana as a contender to fill that role. Santana’s 23 home runs in 2024 would rank third on the Boson Red Sox, behind only Rafael Devers (28) and Tyler O’Neill (31). Santan’a 71 RBI would also put him toward the top of the Red Sox stat leaders for 2024. Santana’s patience and experience could also fit the Red Sox well. His .328 OBP and 65 walks align well with Boston’s need for experienced, disciplined hitters. Young hitters like Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran could benefit from watching Santana’s patience and on-base skills.
Primarily a first baseman, and occasional designated hitter, Santana could complement or replace Dominic Smith at first base. This would immediately improve Boston’s offensive output from that position with Smith’s six home runs and .706 OPS in 2024. Santana would bring Boston an experienced hitter to bolster their offense, help reduce pressure on their primary sluggers, and offer a patient, high-OBP presence.
