Carlos Santana’s latest stop appears to be over before he ever got back to the majors.
The Braves are granting the 40-year-old veteran his release from the minor league deal he signed with Atlanta on June 28, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. Santana had been working with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett after Arizona designated him for assignment earlier this season, but his time in the organization is now coming to an end.
Santana made the most of his stint with the Gwinnett Stripers, hitting .292/.385/.382 in 27 games. Even so, that production won’t keep him in the Braves’ system.
For Santana, the move closes another chapter in a long career that started with the Cleveland Guardians in 2010. He has played in 2,212 big league games, leads active players with 1,332 walks, and has long been valued for that patient left-handed approach at the plate. His career line sits at .240/.351/.424 with 335 home runs and 1,136 RBIs.
The Arizona stint was an unusual one. Santana had never been designated for assignment before the Diamondbacks cut him on June 24, and he was struggling badly at the time, hitting .083 (2 for 24) with eight strikeouts in eight games.
His path through the majors has covered a lot of ground. Along with Cleveland and Arizona, Santana has played at the MLB level for the Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs. He was originally traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Cleveland as a minor leaguer in 2008, debuted two years later as a catcher, and eventually settled in at first base and designated hitter.
If Santana finds another landing spot, there’s still a narrow window to matter. To be eligible for a postseason roster, he needs to be on a major or minor league contract with that team before Sept. 1.
He may not be the same bat that earned him All-Star and Silver Slugger honors in 2019, but the source of his value remains clear: a disciplined left-handed hitter who could still fit as a bench piece in a platoon at first base or designated hitter.
In Other News...
D-Backs Made A Telling Roster Move With The Wild Card Tight
The Diamondbacks are still operating in full postseason mode, and Mondays lineup against the Braves reflected that urgency. With Arizona tied with the Phillies and Padres for the second wild-card spot and sitting at a 53.2% playoff probability, every roster decision carries a little extra weight, especially this late in the season. Ketel Marte returned to the lineup after a day off, giving the club its usual middle-of-the-order presence back as it tries to keep pace in the race.
Arizona also shuffled its roster before first pitch, removing Abner from the 40-man roster and bringing Santana onto it. Those kinds of moves can look minor on the surface, but in a tight wild-card chase they usually say something about how the front office sees the margin for error. Michael Soroka is expected to pitch without any pitch count restrictions, another sign the Diamondbacks are treating this stretch like every inning matters. [Read more 🡒]
Ketel Martes Status Suddenly Feels Bigger For The Diamondbacks
Ketel Martes availability has quickly become one of the more important items on Arizonas daily checklist after the second baseman was listed as day-to-day with left knee soreness. The discomfort had already been hanging around earlier in the month, and it flared up enough during a game against the Atlanta Braves that Marte had to exit and did not return. He was also out of the lineup for the next game, which only underscored how carefully the Diamondbacks have to handle one of their most important regulars.
For a club that leans on Marte for stability in the middle of the infield and production at the plate, even a short absence can change the feel of a series. The good news for Arizona is that the issue was described as soreness rather than something more alarming, and the team now has to wait and see how he responds as the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Torey Lovullos Future Just Raised The Stakes For Arizonas Stretch Run
The Diamondbacks push for the postseason now carries an extra layer of meaning beyond the standings. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Torey Lovullo is in the final year of his contract, and there have not been extension talks as Arizona tries to hold onto its spot in the playoff race. For a club with its current position looking anything but secure, the stretch run has become about more than just a October berth.
Lovullo has been the steady face of the dugout in Arizona, but the uncertainty around his future is hard to miss this late in the season. If the Diamondbacks finish the job, the conversation changes quickly. If they do not, the organization may be facing a major decision about the manager as soon as the season ends. [Read more 🡒]