Carlos Santana’s Surprising Exit from Guardians: What’s Next for the Third-Time Cleveland Returnee?
Carlos Santana’s rollercoaster ride with the Cleveland Guardians hit its final loop this week, as the team decided to release the veteran slugger after placing him on waivers—a move that pretty much wraps up his third chapter in Cleveland and quite likely the curtain call on a 16-year major-league journey. At 39, Santana’s bat looked a little less fiery this season, with a .215/.316/.333 line peppered by 11 homers and 52 RBIs over 455 plate appearances. Yet, even those numbers don’t tell the whole story—his recent outings have dwindled, clocking just 48 plate appearances in August, where he managed a mere .186 average and a .503 OPS. Meanwhile, younger talents like Kyle Manzardo and the promising rookie C.J. Kayfus have been soaking up the spotlight and plate appearances at first base and DH, signaling a shift in the Guardians’ lineup dynamics. Manager Stephen Vogt’s words echoed with respect and realism, acknowledging Santana’s importance to the clubhouse while also underlining the need to pave the way for fresh faces. Having started his pro tale in a trade from the Dodgers back in ’08, and swinging his bat across several teams—including a Gold Glove season with the Twins—Santana’s career has been a tapestry of resilience and moments that dazzled fans. Now, as the Guardians hover in the middle of the AL Central pack and chase that elusive wild-card berth, the baseball world pauses, wondering if this release is truly an end or just another turn in Santana’s storied saga. LEARN MORE
Carlos Santana has been released by the Cleveland Guardians after placing him on waivers, the team announced on Thursday. That ends his third stint with Cleveland and may indicate the end of his 16-year major-league career.
Santana, 39, was batting .215/.316/.333 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 455 plate appearances for the Guardians this season. However, he hasn’t been a regular part of Cleveland’s lineup in recent weeks with only 48 PAs in August. In that limited time, he’s batted .186 with a .503 OPS.
Kyle Manzardo (21 homers, .761 OPS), 25, and rookie C.J. Kayfus (.643 OPS), who turns 24 on Oct. 28, have gotten more of the at-bats at first base and designated hitter while Santana’s playing time and production have diminished. Kayfus came into the season ranked as Cleveland’s No. 4 prospect by MLB.com.
“Right now, we want to give the opportunities to C.J. and Manzo to play a little bit more and get them onto the field,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told reporters on Sunday, via MLB.com.
“He’s a big part of our team. He’s great with our young guys,” Vogt added. “It’s never fun to hear that your role is being reduced, but he’s handled it tremendously, just as everybody would think he would.”
Santana returned to the Guardians this season on a one-year, $12 million contract. Teams could have claim him on waivers during a 48-hour period, but that would mean picking up the remaining $2 million he’s owed by Cleveland. After clearing waivers, staying on the roster was an option with a possible demotion to the minors. However, the team has decided to release him, making Santana a free agent.
He was originally acquired by the Guardians in 2008 in a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Casey Blake. Santana played with Cleveland from 2010-17 before leaving for the Philadelphia Phillies as a free agent. He was traded back to the Guardians as part of a three-way deal involving the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, playing again for Cleveland from 2019-2020.
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During his MLB career, Santana also played for the Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins, with whom he earned a Gold Glove last season for his defense at first base. Overall, he’s registered a .241/.352/.426 slash average with 335 home runs, 403 doubles, 1,134 RBI and 1,130 walks.
Going into Thursday’s MLB slate, the Guardians are third in the AL Central with a 66-66 record, 10.5 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers. They have lost 10 of their past 15 games. Cleveland is also five games back of the AL’s third wild-card playoff berth.
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