Minnesota Twins Free Agent Success Story Heading Back to Division Rival

By Ted Schwerzler |

Updated: Dec 21, 2024

Carlos Santana, Minnesota Twins — Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

One of the key holes that the Minnesota Twins need to fill is at first base. After Alex Kirilloff abruptly retired, and Carlos Santana hit the free agent market, Rocco Baldelli’s team needs an answer. They have one less option to consider now.

Carlos Santana leaves Minnesota Twins for Cleveland

In his one season with the Minnesota Twins, Carlos Santana put his best foot forward. Despite being paid just $5.25 million, he posted a 108 OPS+ and won a Gold Glove. Now he’s headed to the Guardians and will once again try to torment the Twins, as he did in the past.

First baseman Carlos Santana and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year, $12 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. The Guardians traded Josh Naylor, and now they bring the 38-year-old Santana back for his third stint with the organization.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2024

The amount is jarring here. While Santana did have a good season, it was clear he faded down the stretch. Now at 39 years old he’ll make $12 million, which is just $500,000 shy of what Paul Goldschmidt signed with the Yankees for earlier on Saturday.

Carlos Santana goes over the railing and hangs on for the out! pic.twitter.com/2gZDlwYYke
— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2024

Santana spent the first eight seasons of his career with Cleveland, and returned for two more. This will be his third stint in a Guardians uniform. He has played 189 games against Minnesota while hitting 31 home runs and owning a .793 OPS.

His 27 home runs at Target Field, of which 23 came last season for Minnesota, are the second most at any ballpark he has played in. The Guardians are clearly taking a gamble that he won’t meet Father Time during the upcoming season.

Last season Santana was the best defensive first baseman not-named Christian Walker. If his bat tails slightly, then Cleveland will be hoping the glove does not.

Twins rival moves pieces at first base

The Cleveland Guardians’ strategy wasn’t driven by an immediate need for a first baseman but rather by a calculated decision to avoid long-term commitment to Josh Naylor. Naylor, who was projected to make $12 million through arbitration this season, was instead traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks just before the Guardians signed Carlos Santana. This move allowed Cleveland to manage their payroll while still addressing the first base position with a veteran player in Santana.

Full trade, per ESPN sources:

Arizona acquires: 1B Josh Naylor

Cleveland acquires: RHP Slade Cecconi and a competitive balance Round B draft pick
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2024

The Naylor trade on its own looked curious. That was a salary dump considering Slade Cecconi is nothing to write home about. The competitive balance pick is valuable from a financial standpoint, and that’s where the Guardians found the upper hand.

Now Stephen Vogt gets Santana at the same price Naylor was set to make, but with a moldable pitcher and a future prospect. In totality, the moves look pretty shrewd for an organization that has often been regarded as well-run.

Arguably the biggest uncertainty in all of this is just how Santana will handle another year at the highest level. Minnesota didn’t get caught holding the bag when Nelson Cruz fell off, and they didn’t want to here either.