Cleveland Indians: Carlos Santana free agent market value
As free agency approaches for Cleveland Indians slugger Carlos Santana, what might be the switch hitter’s market value?
Carlos Santana will become a free agent this winter, and more than a few teams will be in the market for a first baseman who can mash.
But how will the market treat Santana?
Tribe fans saw first hand last season how the market deserted sluggers, which allowed Cleveland to sign Edwin Encarnacion to a rather team friendly deal. Encarnacion reportedly was looking for something in the $100 million range. Instead, he got three years for $60 million from the Tribe.
That’s life being a free agent on the wrong side of 30.
Which is what Santana will be.
The Indians would like to bring Santana back next in 2018, as a source close to situation said the only thing keeping the two sides from reaching a deal are “finances,” according to FanRag’s John Heyman.
Well, duh, right?
Santana will be an interesting case for the Tribe. The organization was forward thinking in signing Encarnacion, because the front office knew there was a chance Santana could walk.
The Indians picked up Santana’s $12 million option last winter, and it was a wise choice. Since the All-Star break, Santana is batting .309 with a 1.015 OPS. For the season, Santana is batting .266 with an .855 OPS entering Sept. 15.
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer will set the tone for the market.
In 2014, the Braves signed Freddie Freeman to an eight-year contract for $135 million. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hosmer make a play to get something similar.
It will be hard to compare him to Santana, because Hosmer is four years younger. He’s going to get a long contract than Santana, and that means more money.
Santana’s camp will point to production, and it’s had to argue that numbers wise, he’s the best player available.
Some of the guys who were looking for jobs last season, such as Mike Napoli and Mitch Moreland will be back on the market, while a new crop of sluggers (Logan Morrison, Lucas Duda, Yonder Alonso, Mark Reynolds) will look to build their bank accounts, as well.
For Sanana, 31, a three-year offer from the Tribe seems most likely. He’d turn 34 in the final year of that contract. Perhaps a team option could be included.
As far as money goes, I do wonder if the Tribe would shell out $18-20 million to keep Santana on board. Especially with Encarnacion in the fold. The Indians have proven to be so versatile, that Terry Francona will be able to juggle his lineup accordingly.
He’s never hit for the high average that many would thought he would earlier in his career, but he has proven to be the home-run/doubles threat who knows how to draw a walk.
I think a $15-16 million offer is more likely, based off the Tribe’s interest in adding Jose Bautista last season. The organization really went hard for Bautista, even after they signed Encarnacion, only to see Joey Bats return to Toronto.
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This storyline will be worth watching, as Heyman noted the Indians haven’t made Santana an offer. Clearly, the Indians’ front office is in wait-and-see mode to get a more team friendly deal.