Carlos Santana DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana opened up the scoring on Saturday with a 415-foot solo home run off of Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz in the first inning, but Cleveland would go on to lose 10-4 to the Halos. Santana would finish 2-for-3 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. The former All-Star now has three multi-hit games in his last five games and now owns a .290/.343/.452 slash line with a .332 wOBA and 115 wRC+. The 38-year-old has shown he can still hit, making good contact (84.1 percent Contact%) and not striking out at a high rate (14.3 percent K%), and is coming off a season in which he played 150 games with 23 home runs in two consecutive seasons now, so fantasy managers who are deploying the veteran should have confidencein continuing to use his services until he shows signs of a slowdown. It may not be the prettiest of all waiver wire pickups, but managers looking for some bench help could consider the switch-hitter who is owned in just nine percent of Yahoo leagues.

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana is expected to have an everyday role at first base to open the 2025 campaign. Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports that given Josh Naylor's departure, David Fry's (elbow) injury, and the development of Kyle Manzardo, Santana will likely have an everyday role at first base to open the season. Earlier in the offseason, it was reported that Fry could return to the batter's box early in the season but would only be able to operate as a designated hitter. The Guardians brought back their long-time first baseman in the offseason on a one-year $12 million contract. Santana spent the first eight years of his career in Cleveland and then returned for a brief two-year stint during 2019 and 2020 and will now return for his third stint. Last season, the 38-year-old held a .238/.328/.420 line with 23 home runs with the Minnesota Twins. He was very effective against left-handed pitchers as he posted a strong .286/.356/.578 line against them. As their top prospect, Kyle Manzardo, begins to develop, he may eventually earn a platoon role at first base alongside Santana. However, for now, fantasy managers in deeper formats should expect Santana to see most of the opportunities at first base.

According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Seattle Mariners offered free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana a higher salary and a player option for 2026, but the veteran first baseman decided to sign with the Cleveland Guardians instead. The Mariners have been in the first base market all offseason and have been linked to other top options such as Christian Walker. However, with Walker signing in Houston, the Mariners were willing to place a higher bid on Santana but were unable to agree to a deal. Instead, Santana choose to return to his old club on a one-year contract. Santana will now be the everyday first baseman in Cleveland with Josh Naylor being traded to Arizona. Last season, the 38-year-old held a .238/.328/.420 slash line with 23 home runs. Outside of Pete Alonso, other options at first base for Seattle are Justin Turner, Josh Bell, and Anthony Rizzo.