Categories: Offseason

Rumor: Phillies interested in Carlos Santana

Photo by Arturo Pardavila III

In one of those weird rumors that makes little sense until you think about it, but then it just makes 0.002 percent more sense, Jon Morosi tweeted a report (first made by Jon Heyman) that the Phillies and Red Sox were showing “continued interest” in 31-year-old first baseman Carlos Santana.

A free agent, Santana hit .259/.363/.455 last year with the Indians, adding 23 home runs. For his career Santana is a .445 slugger.

There is a scenario where this makes sense. The Phils may be thinking that Rhys Hoskins is staying in left field, and thus with a Tommy Joseph trade (or something), first base opens up. Of course that means the Phils would be then thinking about moving one of the established outfielders for something else (like pitching).

It’s a possible scenario, but it’s not the likely one. Also Santana would likely command a multi-year deal starting at $15 million per season, which doesn’t feel like the type of signing the Phils want to make. More likely this is agent bluster trying to bring up Santana’s value. Either way, it’s rumor season, baby!

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.