The Diamondbacks are bringing in a veteran presence to bolster their first base depth, agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with Carlos Santana. The move gives Arizona a steady glove, a switch-hitting bat, and-perhaps most importantly-some much-needed experience at a position that’s been in flux since last season’s trade deadline. Once Santana passes his physical, the team will need to make a corresponding roster move, as the 40-man is currently full.
Now 40 years old in April, Santana isn’t the same offensive force he was earlier in his career, but he’s carved out a reputation as one of the more quietly consistent contributors of the past decade and a half. Since debuting in 2010, he's put together over 9,000 plate appearances of disciplined, patient hitting.
His career walk rate sits at an impressive 14.4%, with a 16.6% strikeout rate-numbers that speak to his sharp eye and veteran approach. Add in a .241/.352/.425 slash line and a 114 wRC+, and you’ve got a hitter who has long found ways to add value even when the power wasn’t popping.
Defensively, Santana’s resume is just as solid. In nearly 13,000 innings at first base, he’s been a plus defender by both major metrics: 48 Defensive Runs Saved and 45 Outs Above Average. Even as his bat has cooled in recent years, his glove remains a strength.
Offensively, though, the decline has been noticeable. Since the start of the 2020 season, Santana has slashed .222/.321/.378 with a 96 wRC+, dipping below league average production.
In 2025, he split time between Cleveland and Chicago (Cubs), posting a .219/.308/.325 line and an 82 wRC+. His walk rate (11%) and strikeout rate (19.2%) were still respectable, but both trailed his career norms.
So why would Arizona make this move? For one, Santana’s switch-hitting profile and track record against left-handed pitching still hold some appeal-especially in a platoon role.
While his splits weren’t great in 2025, he did post a .286/.356/.578 line with a 160 wRC+ against southpaws as recently as 2024. That kind of upside, even in a limited role, is worth a flier for a team with first base questions.
And the Diamondbacks do have questions at first. After trading Josh Naylor to Seattle at the 2025 deadline, Arizona entered the offseason with Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear as the top internal options. Neither comes without concerns.
Locklear, acquired from the Mariners in the Eugenio Suárez deal, has yet to prove he can hit big league pitching. He’s also recovering from a significant injury.
In a September game against Boston, he collided with batter-runner Connor Wong while trying to handle an errant throw, suffering both a ligament tear in his elbow and a labrum injury in his shoulder. He underwent surgery in October and may not be ready for Opening Day.
Smith, meanwhile, has shown flashes-especially against right-handed pitching-but has struggled to stay healthy and consistent. He put up a strong .270/.348/.547 slash line in 2024, good for a 140 wRC+, but most of that came against righties.
In 2025, the splits were even more pronounced: .265/.361/.456 vs. right-handers, but just .167/.375/.167 against lefties. His season tailed off in the second half due to oblique and quad strains, limiting him to just 87 games.
Defensively, he hasn’t graded out well at first base, either.
That’s where Santana fits in. His right-handed bat and strong glove make him a natural platoon partner for Smith, assuming Smith stays healthy and Locklear isn’t ready. If Locklear returns sooner than expected, the Diamondbacks could use the designated hitter spot to rotate all three players, spreading out at-bats based on matchups and health.
Santana’s arrival also aligns with Arizona’s financial approach this offseason. Owner Ken Kendrick indicated back in September that payroll would likely be scaled back in 2026.
GM Mike Hazen has tried to downplay the impact of those comments, but he did suggest that making a big bullpen splash could have prevented the team from bringing back right-hander Merrill Kelly. In that context, a $2 million deal for a veteran like Santana makes sense: low risk, potentially high reward.
Arizona had been linked to other right-handed-hitting first basemen in recent weeks, including Ty France and former franchise icon Paul Goldschmidt. A Goldy reunion would’ve made for a great story, but with Santana now in the fold, that door likely closes.
In the end, this is a pragmatic move for a team trying to thread the needle between staying competitive and managing payroll. Santana isn’t the centerpiece of the lineup, and he’s not expected to be. But he brings leadership, defensive stability, and a professional approach at the plate-traits that could prove valuable over the course of a long season, especially in a first base mix that’s still very much unsettled.