The Guardians made a splash over the weekend by signing first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year deal worth $12MM, bringing the long-time Cleveland staple back into the fold for the third time in his career. Despite attracting significant interest from various teams, including the Mariners, Santana ultimately chose Cleveland.
According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Mariners extended an offer to Santana that included more guaranteed money and a player option for the 2026 season, allowing him to either opt-out or stay with the club.
Rosenthal aptly describes the Mariners as Santana's 'initial priority' until the Guardians recognized they could trade Josh Naylor to another Santana suitor, the Diamondbacks. This strategic maneuver ultimately led Santana back to Cleveland.
Despite finishing with a disappointing .192 batting average, Santana's performance was regarded as above average thanks to a decent walk rate and his impressive home run count during his last stretch in Seattle.
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