Report: Cubs Adding Carlos Santana For Stretch Run

[Brandon Glick]

The one thing the Cubs successfully did at the trade deadline was address their porous bench, adding utility man Willi Castro just before the final buzzer sounded. Now, Castro hasn't been great in Chicago (.433 OPS), but his defensive versatility has been huge for a lineup that was overplaying its regulars.

Now, the team is adding more depth to the bench, as they appear close to signing Carlos Santana, just days after the Guardians released him:

I did a full write-up of Santana a few weeks ago prior to the trade deadline (in regard to his fit with the Red Sox, but the analysis still applies), so to paraphrase myself: he's a 39-year-old former catcher playing in his 16th MLB season. Offensively, Santana isn't quite the voracious slugger he once was, but he's still capable of producing when it counts. Through 116 games (455 plate appearances this season), the veteran is slashing .225/.316/.333, good for an 86 wRC+. His ISO (.109) is down at career-low levels, but his walk (11.4%) and strikeout rates (18.9%) remain positively elite.

Santana has become a great defender at first base in recent years, and he's on pace for perhaps his best season with the glove yet. His seven Outs Above Average are in line with the 14 he gave Minnesota in 2024, and his 11 DRS tie his best mark (set in 2023).

Cubs fans will remember him best from the 2016 World Series, when he tormented Cubs pitching to the tune of a .771 OPS. Hopefully, he can provide the kind of veteran leadership this club needs to make a deep run in the playoffs.

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[17 Seconds]

I still appreciate him popping up that hanging slider from chapman in game 7

[Andy]

Seems like the only reason to sign him is to take Turner's ABs away, but Turner's doing ok vs LHP. I guess another bench bat that isn't a complete disaster is a decent idea.

[Derwood]

10 minutes ago, Andy said:

Seems like the only reason to sign him is to take Turner's ABs away, but Turner's doing ok vs LHP. I guess another bench bat that isn't a complete disaster is a decent idea.

Turner is a 0 WAR player. Santana is 1.3 bWAR

[Stratos]

Old dudes want a shot at a ring i guess.

[Chicago Al]

Can the Cubs ban him from wearing those ridiculous baseball pants/shorts?

[chibears55]

I guess Turner ran out if inspirational words to ignite the clubhouse so they needed another 40 year old to inspire them 🤷‍♂️

 

Theyll also be adding Alcantara to the roster tomorrow when they expand according to Birch.

[chibears55]

So since he's a SH, this mean he'll be DHing against RHers some over Suzuki and playing 1B against Lefties instead of Turner? 

 

[chibears55]

21 minutes ago, Chicago Al said:

Can the Cubs ban him from wearing those ridiculous baseball pants/shorts?

He'll have the whole team wearing them one game 🤣😅

[Gjfificifjdej]

Im going to crash out when I see Santana doing that clown act shorts thing in pinstripes. 

[Derwood]

7 minutes ago, Gjfificifjdej said:

Im going to crash out when I see Santana doing that clown act shorts thing in pinstripes. 

I think it's hilarious

[chopsx9]

2 hours ago, Derwood said:

Turner is a 0 WAR player. Santana is 1.3 bWAR

That's not too surprising as Santana has pretty much been a starter and has 3 times as many plate appearances. It's also much closer with fWar.  I think he's just going to be used as a RH hitter mostly

[cl smooth]

santana is the active mlb leader in walks...learn something new every day!

also: i cannot wait to see him rock those butt huggers in cubby blue!

[bukie]

This is pretty minor overall, as rosters expand to 28 tomorrow and this is basically an extra RH bat to use against lefties when needed.

[Arlen]

Jonathan Long may be drumming his fingertips in sequences on the arm of hotel chair.

Edited September 1, 2025 by Arlen