Report: Indians Chatting About a Possible Reunion with Former First Baseman Carlos Santana

While the Indians 2018 MLB Winter Meetings focus seems to be on them looking to move one of their starters, there’s also a tidbit that is of interest about a homecoming with a player who left them not all that long ago.

That player is first basemen/DH Carlos Santana, who inked a mega three-year deal last offseason worth $60 million last offseason with the Phillies.

He’s already been dealt once this offseason the Seattle Mariners, and now Corey Brock of The Athletic says the Indians are one of three teams in the mix to possibly make a deal to get Santana back.

The report says that the Indians along with the Tampa Bay Rays have spoken to the Mariners about Santana, who in his only season in Philadelphia hit .229 with 24 homers, 86 RBI and 110 walks with 93 strikeouts.

Santana has two years worth $40 mil left on his deal, but one would think the only way the Indians would in fact take on such a hefty contract is by not only trading either Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer (which appears more and more likely at some point), but also possibly moving Edwin Encarnacion.

The Rays reportedly have asked about Encarnacion, and the Indians moving him to Tampa would give the team the flexibility to not only pay for Santana’s contract, but also have a spot for him as well as Yonder Alonso (if he doesn’t get dealt) at first base as well as DH.

According to Brock’s report, the other team that has asked about Santana are the Colorado Rockies.

Santana spent eight seasons with the Indians, hitting .249 in his career with 149 homers and 547 runs batted in. He also 726 walks in those eight seasons, leading the American League in that category in 2014 with 113 walks.

In his final season with the Tribe, Santana hit .259 with 23 homers and 79 runs batted in with 88 walks and 94 strikeouts.