Report: Cubs reach deal with Carlos Santana

Field Level Media|published: Sun 31st August, 10:47 2025

Aug 1, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) celebrates after scoring during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Chicago Cubs agreed to a contract with veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, MLB Network reported Sunday morning.

Terms of the deal were not immediately known for Santana, who was released by the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, ending his third tenure with the club.

The Cubs (78-58) have won eight of their past 12 games and reside 6 1/2 games in back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. They hold the top wild-card spot in the NL, however.

Santana, 39, is having the least productive season of his career, with a .225/.316/.333 slash line through 116 games. His .650 OPS is the lowest of his career.

The 2019 All-Star had seen his playing time drop with the emergence of Kyle Manzardo and rookie C.J. Kayfus, who both came through the Cleveland system as first basemen.

Santana has played 16 major league seasons with Cleveland (2010-17, 2019-20, 2025), Philadelphia (2018), Kansas City (2021-22), Seattle (2022), Pittsburgh (2023), Milwaukee (2023) and Minnesota (2024).

He is a career .241 hitter with 335 home runs and 1,134 RBIs. His 227 homers with Cleveland rank fifth in franchise history and his 933 walks trail only Jim Thome's 1,008.

--Field Level Media

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