With one week before the first 2026 Spring Training workouts begin, some teams are adding more pieces. The Diamondbacks have reportedly agreed to sign 39-year-old first baseman Carlos Santana, a former Gold Glove winner who is coming off a down season.
Santana joins Diamondbacks
Per multiple reports, including from MLB.com and the Associated Press, the Diamondbacks have agreed to sign first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year deal worth $2MM.
Santana spent 2025 split between the Guardians and Cubs. Cleveland signed Santana after, oddly enough, trading away former first baseman Josh Naylor to Arizona in December 2024. But after a down year, the Guardians cut him late in the season. He was scooped by the Cubs for the stretch run in September.
The 39-year-old played well defensively, as noted by his +8 Outs Above Average last season. However, he slashed .219/.308/.325 (.633 OPS) last season. His .325 slugging percentage last season was a career low.
Before the move, the Diamondbacks’ options at first for 2026 included Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear. Locklear required elbow and shoulder surgeries after the 2025 season.
Pirates invite more players to ST
Last month, the Pirates invited several of the team’s top prospects to Spring Training. Pittsburgh added five more players on February 3: Nick Cimillo, Derek Berg, Nick Dombkowski, Alika Williams, and Mitch Jebb.
Williams has MLB experience, as the former first-round pick received 208 plate appearances between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, both of which were spent in Pittsburgh.
Cimillo led the Double-A Altoona Curve in home runs (20) last season.
Jebb, a second-round pick from 2023 by the Pirates, will also be with the big club in Bradenton. As we noted in our 2025 Pirates farm review, Jebb was adept at working counts and posted one of the lowest swing-and-miss rates in the Eastern League.
Notable transactions
The Dodgers re-claimed outfielder Michael Siani off waivers on February 3. Los Angeles previously claimed him in December but cut him shortly thereafter. Infielder Andy Ibanez was DFA’d in a corresponding move.
Additionally, Jackson Kowar (Twins) and Garrett Acton (Marlins) were claimed off waivers.
Outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. was designated for assignment by the Marlins.
The Yankees sent outfielder Marco Luciano outright to Triple-A Scranton.
Cincinnati DFA’d catcher Ben Rortvedt.
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