The Twins reportedly picked up ex-Guardian Carlos Santana on February 2, a move made just days after Minnesota traded away fellow switch-hitter Jorge Polanco to Seattle. Santana is coming off a strong rebound season and the move can help in a number of ways.
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A Look at Santana
Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana hit 38 combined home runs between 2021-22 but posted OPS figures below .700 in each of those campaigns. That changed in 2023, as Santana had things go his way between the Pirates and Brewers.
Across 146 games, Santana hit 23 home runs and 57 extra-base hits — the latter of which was his highest in a single season since 2019 — and played a key role for the Brewers last summer. Santana also stayed short to the ball, as his 16 home runs and .487 SLG against fastballs were his best since that aforementioned 2019 campaign.
In total, Santana finished ninth among primary first basemen (min. 60% GP at 1B) in home runs and 11th in total bases (236).
The 37-year-old has also been exceptional when it comes to plate discipline. Santana posted plus Chase% rates in every season since 2015 and that’s allowed him to be a walks machine.
That power and ability to get on base does make Santana somewhat of a flexible bat and someone that can be slotted either in the heart or event in the #2 slot like how the Phillies used the veteran in 2018.
Per multiple reports, the Twins agreed to sign Carlos Santana to a one-year deal worth $5.25MM.
Analysis
Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey stated after the Jorge Polanco trade that Minnesota would re-invest the money saved from that deal. That turned out to be the case, as Minnesota picked up a switch-hitter, much like Polanco, that could help in several ways.
For starters, the Twins did have a hole at first. Minnesota went through 2023 with the likes of Joey Gallo, Donovan Solano, and Alex Kirilloff getting time at first. Santana does give Minnesota added depth at the position and does give the Twins an option with how the team wants to align their 2024 lineup.
What also helps is that provided DH/OF Byron Buxton can play center, there’s still a path for playing time for the likes of Kirilloff, Matt Wallner, and Trevor Larnach between the corner outfield positions and the DH slot.
Second, Santana does provide protection against left-handed pitching. Last season, the Twins finished 15th in the league in wRC+ (100) and 19th in OPS (.726) against left-handed pitchers.
Minnesota does have several talented right-handed hitters but Santana — who owns a career OPS of .807 against LHP — gives Minnesota one more.