The White Sox are in the market for a steady veteran presence, and one name stands out-not just for what he brings to the field, but for the history he carries into the clubhouse. Carlos Santana, long a thorn in Chicago’s side during his years in the AL Central, is now a free agent and could be exactly what this young White Sox team needs.
Yes, Santana is coming off a down year-just 11 home runs and a career-high 26% strikeout rate-but there’s more to the story than just the surface numbers. Even at 39, he still offers a blend of power, plate discipline, and plus defense that’s hard to find, especially on a short-term deal. His left-handed power swing fits nicely with the dimensions at Guaranteed Rate Field, and his career walk rate-hovering around 14%-suggests he can still grind out quality at-bats even when the hits aren’t falling.
Let’s not overlook the intangibles either. Santana has logged over 9,000 plate appearances in the big leagues, with 335 home runs and more than 1,100 RBIs to his name.
That kind of experience doesn’t just show up in the box score-it shows up in the dugout, in the clubhouse, and in the way younger players approach the game. For a White Sox team that struggled to find stability at first base last season, that matters.
Chicago tried a mix-and-match approach at first in 2025, with Miguel Vargas and Lenyn Sosa combining to handle the position in nearly two-thirds of the team’s games. Vargas held his own over 63 games, but Sosa’s performance revealed some gaps, particularly on the defensive side.
Santana, meanwhile, remains one of the better gloves at the position-even at this stage of his career. He’s just a year removed from a Gold Glove win in Minnesota and posted 8 Outs Above Average last season, placing him in the top five percent of all MLB defenders.
That kind of defensive value is rare for a player his age, and it’s not just about flashy plays-it’s about consistency, positioning, and leadership. First base might not be the flashiest position on the diamond, but when you’re trying to build a more stable defensive core, it’s a great place to start.
Santana’s familiarity with the division only adds to his appeal. He’s spent the bulk of his career in the AL Central, most notably with Cleveland, where he had three separate stints and became a fixture in the lineup.
With 227 home runs and over 900 walks for the Guardians, he ranks among their all-time leaders in both categories. He knows the ballparks, the pitchers, and the grind of the division.
That kind of institutional knowledge can be a real asset for a team trying to reestablish its footing.
No one’s expecting Santana to be the All-Star or Silver Slugger he once was. But as a short-term solution-someone who can stabilize first base, bring a professional approach to the plate, and mentor a young roster-he checks just about every box. If the White Sox are looking for a low-risk, high-upside move this offseason, bringing Santana into the fold would make a lot of sense.