Dennis Santana is back on the market after the Pirates designated the right-hander for assignment last week and he cleared waivers, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Santana then exercised his right to elect free agency.
The move fits the numbers. Santana struggled to a 6.05 earned run average in Pittsburgh this season, and with a $3.5MM salary attached, he wasn’t likely to draw much trade interest or many waiver claims.
Because he has at least five years of service time, Santana can turn down an outright assignment without giving up any salary. Pittsburgh is still responsible for the roughly $1.1MM left on his deal. If another team signs him now, it would only owe him the prorated league minimum for whatever time he spends on the roster, with that figure offset against what the Pirates are paying.
That cheaper price tag should make him more attractive now than he was on waivers, even if the market still may not be robust. Santana could land a major league spot somewhere, but minor league offers are also in play.
The 2025 results weren’t pretty. Santana posted a 19.9% strikeout rate and an 11.3% walk rate, both below par.
Still, he isn’t far removed from a strong stretch with Pittsburgh. After the Pirates claimed him from the Yankees in June of 2024, he worked 114 2/3 innings through the end of 2025 and put up a 2.28 ERA with a 24.9% strikeout rate and 6.3% walk rate.
Some of that was aided by a .230 batting average on balls in play and a 77.4% strand rate, but his 2.91 FIP and 3.35 SIERA pointed to quality work even with more neutral fortune.
Bullpen help is always in demand around the league, and Santana won’t be near the top of every team’s wish list. Even so, the combination of low cost and recent big league success should get him some attention.
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Seth Hernandez appears to be the one line Pittsburgh is not prepared to cross. The Athletic reported the Pirates are unlikely to move their top prospect, even with other clubs showing interest and potential deals coming up that could involve San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller. Hernandez is out for the season with an injury, but the organization still views him as a core piece of its future, which makes him a difficult name to include in any deadline conversation. [Read more 🡒]