Diamondbacks to sign free agent deal with former Guardians 335-homer slugger originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in the market for first base help this offseason, and have a few options they could pick up this winter.

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Paul Goldschmidt sticks out like a sore thumb, as a reunion with the franchise icon would be a fun storyline this offseason. But that’s not what the Diamondbacks are going to do.

Instead, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Diamondbacks are in agreement with 39-year-old Gold Glove first baseman Carlos Santana on a contract.

Diamondbacks to sign ex-Guardians 335-homer slugger

“Free-agent first baseman Carlos Santana in agreement with Diamondbacks, pending physical, sources tell me and @WillSammon,” Rosenthal reports.

This deal with the Diamondbacks and the former Cleveland Guardians slugger is a small one for the Diamondbacks. It’s a cheap deal, but a noteworthy one.

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Santana is 39 years old and has 335 home runs in his NFL career with a .241 career batting average, 39.3 bWAR, and a .777 OPS and 112 OPS+ in his 12-year career.

By joining the Diamondbacks, as long as he plays in one game this upcoming season, Santana will have been in the Major Leagues for 17 different seasons and with nine different teams.

More: MLB Hot Stove tracker: Live updates on news, rumors, signings and trades for 2025 free agency

This past season for the Guardians and the Chicago Cubs, Santana hit .219 with a .633 OPS in one of the worst seasons of his professional career.

His 77 OPS+ was the worst mark of his 16 years in the Major Leagues, but with his great defense at first base, he still put up 1.1 bWAR on the year.

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Santana is a nice veteran first base option for the Diamondbacks in 2026, and if he can somewhat return to form offensively, his stellar defense will make him a very solid player for the Diamondbacks this upcoming season.

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