Reports: Diamondbacks signing veteran 1B Carlos Santana

Field Level Media|published: Tue 3rd February, 20:36 2026

Aug 19, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Arizona Diamondbacks are signing free agent first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year, $2 million contract, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

Santana, who turns 40 on April 8, is a switch-hitter giving the Diamondbacks an option at first base with left-handed-hitting Pavin Smith, who turns 30 on Friday.

Santana batted a combined .219 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs in 2025 after splitting time between Cleveland (116 games) and the Chicago Cubs (eight), who signed him on Sept. 1 after the Guardians released him four days earlier. He started 92 games at first base and 18 at designated hitter with one appearance at third base.

An All-Star first baseman with Cleveland in 2019, Santana won a Silver Slugger Award that season and the Gold Glove for American League first basemen with the Minnesota Twins in 2024.

Santana is batting .241 for his career with 335 homers, 1,136 RBIs, a .352 on-base percentage and a .425 slugging percentage in 2,204 regular-season games for Cleveland (2010-17, 2019-20, 2025), the Philadelphia Phillies (2018), Kansas City Royals (2021-22), Seattle Mariners (2022), Pittsburgh Pirates (2023), Milwaukee Brewers (2023), Twins (2024) and Cubs (2025).

He also batted .205 with five homers and 13 RBIs in 30 playoff games.

--Field Level Media

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