The New York Yankees have a need at first base after letting Anthony Rizzo hit free agency.
The Yankees declined their option on Rizzo and since then, New York has yet to make an addition to the lineup. But, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported on X that the Yankees are interested in signing Carlos Santana.
“Still a $ gap in Bellinger trade talk with Yankees and Cubs as of this minute. It’s a matter of “who blinks first,” if ever. Still could happen but Yanks also considering Alonso, Walker, C. Santana, J. Naylor, N. Lowe, probably others,” Heyman wrote on X.
Santana is hoping to play multiple more seasons, but will likely sign a one or two-year in free agency.
In 2024 with the Minnesota Twins, Santana hit .238 with 23 home runs and 71 RBIs. Santana is a former 34-home run slugger who has a career-high of 113 RBIs.
Following Heyman’s report, Mark Polichuk of MLBTradeRumors writes that Santana is a good option for New York.
Santana would be a cheap one or two-year option for the Yankees at first base. He also would add power to the lineup, and his defense at first base won him a Gold Glove in 2024.
“Signing Santana would be the most straightforward and cost-effective move of the bunch,” Polischuk wrote. “Santana will almost surely require just a one-year guarantee because he is entering his age-39 season. Despite his age, Santana rebounded from a few middling seasons to post a
.238/.328/.420 slash line and 23 home runs for the Twins over 594 plate appearances in 2024, while also winning the AL Gold Glove at first base. The combination of offense and defense translated to 3.0 fWAR for Santana, the third-highest of his 15 Major League seasons.
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