Spanish
CLEVELAND. – Veteran Dominican first baseman Carlos Santana became a free agent this Thursday after the Cleveland Guardians officially announced his release, ending the third chapter of his career with the franchise
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The decision came two days after the club placed him on unconditional waivers. Now, the 38-year-old player will have the opportunity to sign with any other team before September 1, which would allow him to be eligible for the postseason. Santana had returned to Cleveland in December 2024 with a contract of one year and 12 million dollars, seeking to reinforce the offense after the departure of Josh Naylor. However, in recent weeks he lost prominence on the field, while the organization bet on the young Kyle Manzardo and C.J. Kayfus at first base. In the current season, the Dominican player played 116 games, recording a batting average of .225, with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs, in addition to standing out defensively with 7 Outs Above Average at first base, which placed him tied for second place in all of Major League Baseball. Santana debuted in the Majors with Cleveland in 2010 and, over 15 seasons in the MLB, has spent 11 campaigns with the franchise, becoming a historical reference. He contributed to four postseason qualifications (2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018), including the 2016 World Series. The switch-hitting slugger holds a privileged place in Guardians history: fifth in home runs (227), eighth in extra-base hits (524), and eleventh in doubles (283). At Progressive Field, his 113 home runs put him fourth on the list, behind only Jim Thome, José Ramírez, and Manny Ramírez. Cleveland first acquired him in 2008 from the Dodgers, and his bond with the organization has marked several stages of his career, solidifying him as one of the most beloved and respected figures by the fans.
