Carlos Santana had contract offers from both the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners, two teams he had previously played for, this past offseason.
The veteran first baseman chose a one-year, $12 million deal with the Guardians, reportedly passing up a Mariners offer that included more guaranteed money and a player option for 2026.
Santana and the Guardians will be in Seattle for a three-game series beginning Friday.
“God gave me so much opportunity,” said Santana, who played for Cleveland from 2010-17 and again in 2019-20. “I’m blessed. Long career, 15 years. I’m excited and happy, especially coming back to Cleveland. This organization gave me so much opportunity, and back and forth twice. I’m happy for that.”
The 39-year-old celebrated the 15th anniversary of his major league debut Wednesday with a grand slam in an 11-2 victory against visiting Cincinnati as the Guardians avoided a season sweep by their in-state rivals.
It was Santana’s sixth career grand slam and his first since Sept. 19, 2022, while with the Mariners in a win over the Los Angeles Angels.
“Fifteen years in the big leagues; it’s ridiculous,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s just a testament to obviously being very, very good, but taking care of yourself. It’s hard to keep playing as you get older, and he does it at an elite level still. It’s a testament to his hard work.”
Sparked by Santana’s slam, the Guardians broke out offensively after averaging just 2.6 runs in their previous nine games this month — a span in which they went 3-6.
Vogt admitted earlier in the week that “a lot of guys” were trying to do too much.
“It looked like we weren’t pressing,” Vogt said of Wednesday’s victory. “We waited for our pitch, and when we got it, we didn’t miss it. And that happens when you’re relaxed. That happens when you just go up there, look for a pitch and be yourself, not trying to do more.
“This is a big win,” Vogt added. “Every win is big, but (especially) right before you get on a cross-country flight. It’s a good feeling to get on the plane.”
The Mariners’ free-fall continues as they have lost eight of their past nine games to drop below the .500 mark for the first time since April 15 and fall four games behind Houston in the American League West after leading the division at the start of the month.
Seattle has also struggled offensively, scoring just 28 runs over that nine-game stretch.
“Baseball just kicks your (rear) sometimes; it’s just kind of how it is,” said Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo, who gave up a grand slam to former teammate Eugenio Suarez in a 5-2 loss Wednesday at Arizona. “Nobody feels sorry for us. Nobody is going to hand us any wins. We’ve got to create our own luck.
“Got to be present for the next game we get,” Woo continued. “As much as the last two weeks or so has really sucked, still got a lot of baseball to play. It’s still June.”
Right-hander Gavin Williams (5-3, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Guardians in the series opener, while the Mariners are expected to start right-hander Luis Castillo (4-4, 3.31).
Williams, a first-round draft pick in 2021, is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA in seven starts since the beginning of May. He didn’t get a decision despite a quality start Saturday against visiting Houston in a game the Guardians lost 5-3 in 10 innings. Williams will be facing the Mariners for the first time.
Castillo lost his last start Saturday 8-6 to the host Angels. He allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits — including three home runs — while walking none and striking out five. His last win was on May 19, when he threw seven shutout innings and yielded three hits with no walks and five strikeouts to beat the host Chicago White Sox 5-1.
Castillo is 1-5 with a 4.98 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 47 innings in nine career starts against Cleveland.
–Field Level Media
