The Atlanta Braves signed veteran first baseman Carlos Santana to a minor league contract Saturday night, adding depth and experience as they try to stop a troubling slide that’s seen them lose 11 of their last 15 games.
Santana, 40, will report to Triple-A but could eventually join the big league club in a platoon role. The move comes as Atlanta watches what was once a comfortable NL East lead evaporate during one of their worst stretches of the season.
“Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana and the Atlanta Braves are in agreement on a minor league contract,” ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported. “Santana will head to Triple-A, where he provides insurance for Atlanta and can try to get back to the big leagues after being released by Arizona.”
It’s exactly the type of low-risk move GM Alex Anthopoulos has built his reputation on. With the trade deadline just over a month away, the Braves need all the help they can get.
Troubling Trend
The concerning part isn’t just that Atlanta’s struggling — it’s how quickly things have deteriorated. Back in early June, Anthopoulos was confident about the team’s direction.
“I fully expect and hope that we will be engaged in trades come July. I’m not trying to overly excite anybody or promise anything. But if we’re playing the way we are right now, we’re going to be in there.”
That was then. Now the Braves are playing nothing like the team that once controlled their division.
The offense has missed Ronald Acuña Jr. badly during his injury absence, but that’s only part of the problem. The starting rotation has been equally troublesome, posting a 6.72 ERA during this 15-game skid.
“Being limited to one hit over seven scoreless innings by Giants ace Logan Webb was the least of concerns for the Braves,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote. “This has been a rough month for the offense. But the starting rotation has also been a problem.”
What Santana Brings
The switch-hitting Santana gives Atlanta options they didn’t have before. He’s appeared in 85 games this season between Minnesota and Arizona, hitting .238/.328/.420 with 18 home runs.
Those numbers aren’t spectacular, but they represent solid production from a veteran who knows how to work counts and provide professional at-bats. Plus, he brings October experience — Santana appeared in the 2016 World Series with Cleveland.
Over his 16-year career, Santana has earned more than $126 million in contracts. That’s the resume of someone who’s figured out how to stick around.
What makes this signing interesting is the timing. The Braves could’ve easily waited to see if better options emerged closer to the deadline. Instead, they’re acting now, which suggests they recognize how urgent their situation has become.
Anthopoulos has found value in moves like this before. If Santana can provide even modest production while giving manager Brian Snitker more lineup flexibility, it’ll be money well spent.
The question now is whether moves like this will be enough, or if Atlanta will need to make bigger splashes before July 30th to salvage what’s quickly becoming a disappointing season.
