Carlos Santana deserves to retire as a member of the Cleveland Guardians

On Friday, July 11, Carlos Santana belted his 11th home run of the 2025 campaign.

While that number may not stand out by itself, that home run signified his 227th as a member of the Cleveland Guardians. It moved him into the No. 5 spot in team history for home runs in a career in Cleveland.

As the 39-year-old slowly moves through the tail end of his career, he continues to contribute to the Guardians both on the field and in the locker room.

While the rise of Kyle Manzardo and many young, talented prospects continue to place a question mark on his current role in Cleveland, Santana still deserves to remain in The Land until his career comes to a close.

In 2010, Santana joined the major league roster after two years in the minor league system. Before being with the Guardians, he played three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers' minor league teams.

Through his first eight years in the majors, he slashed a line of .249/.365/.445 that also included 174 total home runs. What also made him so dangerous was his ability to stay keen at the plate, striking out just an average of 101 times per season while walking 91.

From his debut with the team through 2020, he was incredibly consistent at the plate, winning a Silver Slugger in 2019.

He also played a vital role for the team during their run for a World Series title in 2016, blasting a key home run in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

While he left for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018, his time there was only spent for one season before he returned to play for Cleveland through the COVID-19 Pandemic.

After the 2020 season, he moved around completely stints with several different teams. In 2024, he was secured his first-ever Gold Glove at first base with the Minnesota Twins, becoming the oldest player to win the award for the first time.

He returned for the third time to the Guardians later that year in December of 2024, signing a one-year deal worth $12-million.

Cleveland valued what he could provide, not only on the field, but off.

Carlos Santana deserves to dictate his Cleveland Guardians fate

His leadership and experience as a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner are honors he can use to mentor younger teammates. With catcher Bo Naylor trying to find his footing, and Manzardo still working through kinks in his game, Santana has been able to serve as a veteran presence.

He also has provided support to Cleveland as a whole, working with the KeyBank Glove Drive in the past, while also supporting the Providence House.

As Santana's career comes to a close and his playing days wind down, it just makes sense for him to call it done in the place where he got his start.

While some look at Santana as a trade piece with the MLB Trade Deadline approaching, he should be viewed as a veteran staple, one who deserves to retire wearing the navy blue and red.