The Cleveland Guardians sit 9.5 games back in the AL Central, making their trade deadline approach anything but certain. If they do become sellers, though, veteran first baseman Carlos Santana emerges as the obvious candidate to move.
That’s the assessment from Zack Meisel of The Athletic, who identifies Santana as Cleveland’s clear trade chip if they decide to sell.
“Carlos Santana is the obvious answer. Since Kyle Manzardo can handle first base, and C.J. Kafus is ready for an audition.”
The logic makes sense. Cleveland has internal options ready to step up, and Santana’s veteran presence becomes expendable if they’re looking toward next season.
The Market Reality
But here’s where it gets tricky. Santana’s 39 years old, even if he’s defying time this season. As Meisel puts it: “How much value does a 39-year-old have?”
Not much, especially as a rental player in his career’s twilight. The return wouldn’t be substantial, but it would create an opening for prospects who deserve extended looks.
What makes this more challenging is the competition. There’s a bounty of first basemen and designated hitters available this year, many younger and with more team control than Santana. That’s going to hurt his market value.
What Santana Brings
Still, Santana’s been solid for Cleveland this season. Across 230 at-bats, he’s hitting .248 with a .722 OPS. Not spectacular, but productive for his 16th MLB season.
His counting stats tell a similar story:
- 66 games played
- 57 hits, 33 runs scored
- 8 home runs, 34 RBIs
- 32 walks against 47 strikeouts
That walk-to-strikeout ratio shows he’s still got a decent approach at the plate. For a contending team looking for veteran depth, there’s value there.
The way I see it, Santana won’t bring back much, but he represents Cleveland’s most logical trade piece if they decide to punt on 2024. After 11 years with the organization across two separate stints, this could be how his Cleveland story ends – making room for the next generation while helping a contender down the stretch.
All things considered, the Guardians have to weigh whether the modest return is worth moving on from a steady veteran presence. But if they’re serious about selling, Santana’s the guy who makes the most sense to go.
