Minnesota Twins' Veteran Could Get Surprising Everyday Starting Role in 2024
The Minnesota Twins may be preparing to give veteran Carlos Santana an everyday job in 2024, per Aaron Gleeman of 'The Athletic.'
When the Twins signed Santana, I assumed he’d platoon with Kirilloff versus lefties and play sporadically versus righties, but I’m now convinced he’ll be the primary first baseman no matter the matchup. They think highly of Santana’s glove and seem to believe he’s still an everyday-caliber hitter at age 38.
That doesn’t change much for Kirilloff, other than that he’ll likely be starting less at first base and more at designated hitter. Either way, he needs to stay healthy and consistently productive at the plate, and there’s some thought that the DH spot will make both easier to accomplish.
The Twins signed Santana to a one-year deal this offseason and he's 6-for-17 thusfar in spring training with a home run.
Lifetime, Santana is a .242 hitter with 301 homers across 14 years with the Indians, Phillies, Royals, Mariners, Pirates and Brewers.
Santana hit .240 a season ago with 23 home runs across his two stops with the Pirates and Brewers. He helped Milwaukee get to the playoffs after a midseason trade and did the same thing for Seattle in 2022. He is universally known as a good clubhouse presence.
He spent 10 years in Cleveland, helping them get to the World Series in the 2016 season. He was also an All-Star in the 2019 season, and he won a Silver Slugger that same year.
The Twins are coming off a season in which they won the American League Central but were eliminated in the ALDS by the Houston Astros.
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