Diamondbacks Sign Santana to $2M Deal

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth $2 million with veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, addressing a key need at the position during a busy offseason, according to multiple reports. The deal, which is pending a physical examination, brings the 39-year-old switch-hitter to Phoenix as he enters his 17th major league season.

Santana, who turns 40 in April, provides the Diamondbacks with a reliable right-handed bat to platoon alongside left-handed hitter Pavin Smith at first base. This arrangement offers flexibility against left-handed pitching, an area where Arizona has struggled in recent years. Smith hit .265 with a .817 OPS versus right-handers last season but managed just a .167 average against southpaws. Santana, meanwhile, has posted stronger historical numbers from the right side, including a career .352 on-base percentage that ranks him as the active leader in walks with 1,330.

A 16-year major league veteran, Santana debuted with Cleveland in 2010 and spent much of his career there, earning his lone All-Star nod in 2019 along with a Silver Slugger award that year. Over his tenure with eight teams, he has slugged 335 home runs and...