Guardians icon signs deal with Diamondbacks after disappointing season in Cleveland

Over the weekend, Arizona sports media insider John Gambadoro reported that Diamondbacks were interested in bringing in Carlos Santana for 2026 while also adding the caveat that it seemed like a deal wasn’t close. 

It turns out a deal may have been closer than both parties made it seem, as Santana agreed to a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon. 

While it’s a bit surprising to see a team roll the dice on Santana considering how rough his 2025 season with the Guardians, it seems like the Diamondbacks clearly respect and admire the value that he brings off the diamond. 

Carlos Santana signs one-year deal with Diamondbacks after rough 2025 with Guardians 

Last season the Guardians reunited with Santana on a one-year, $12 million deal that came on the heels of them trading Josh Naylor to the Diamondbacks. While Santana is revered throughout Cleveland thanks to the heights he reached during his first two tenures with the club, the move wasn’t well-received by the Guardians’ fanbase. 

It got even worse once the season started, as Santana struggled at the plate and looked like a shell of the player Guardians fans had come to know previously. 

Santana ended up posting a .219/.308/.325 slashline in 116 games for the Guardians before being designated for assignment at the start of September so the Guardians could clear a pathway for C.J. Kayfus and George Valera to get more playing time. 

Santana ended up signing with the Cubs (where he reunited with Craig Counsell, who managed him in Milwaukee), but he went just 2-for-19 in eight games with them before being left off Chicago’s postseason roster. 

He’s still a wizard in the field (eight Outs Above Average), but his offensive skills are clearly on the decline. 

That said, he’s still a switch-hitter and is just two years removed from hitting .286 against left-handers, so the Diamondbacks are clearly hoping there’s still something left in the tank. 

Gambadoro also mentioned in his initial report that the Diamondbacks were interested in having him serve as a mentor to second baseman Ketel Marte, who has caused some rifts in the Arizona’s clubhouse in recent seasons. 

The Diamondbacks also have a clear hole at first base after they traded Naylor to the Mariners at last year’s trade deadline. Tyler Locklear entered the offseason as their top option, but he hit just .175 in 31 games with Arizona last year in his initial season with the Diamondbacks. 

There’s also the case of the finances, as Gambadoro reported Tuesday that Santana’s deal is worth around $2 million, which is a huge discount compared to the $12 million Cleveland paid him last season.

But even if Santana’s final tenure with the Guardians didn’t end the way anyone wanted, chances are there will still be plenty of Guardians fans cheering for Santana from afar.