With the Cleveland Guardians struggling to stay atop in the AL Central, some big changes could be on the horizon. For Cleveland, while still a good team, the MLB trade deadline could be a good opportunity to sell off some of their older, expiring assets.
Unfortunately, one of the players who fits the bill the best is fan-favorite first baseman Carlos Santana. Teams around baseball are looking for first baseman help, and the Guardians, 9.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central lead, would be a team likely to consider moving their starting first baseman.
Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report also made that prediction, identifying Santana and another Guardians player as the top trade candidates from the team if they become sellers.
"Pending free agents such as Carlos Santana and Lane Thomas will be obvious trade chips," Rymer writes. "Though teams can at least ask about the guys on the top shelf."
While those top-shelf guys aren't likely to be moved, Santana is. Santana is in the final year of his current deal he signed in the offseason, which was a one-year deal worth $12 million. That, combined with the team on the outside looking in at the postseason picture, means that he's a prime candidate to be moved at the deadline.
The 39-year-old might be in the final year of his MLB career, and while he may not want to leave Cleveland, if the team does right by him in his pursuit of a World Series ring, he could be on his way to a top contender.
Based on his 2025 production, a team would be interested in the veteran. Santana is batting .248 on the year, but more impressively, through his first 66 games, he's totaled 1.1 WAR.
On the year, Santana has 57 hits, 33 runs scored, six doubles, eight home runs, 34 RBIs, 32 walks, two stolen bases, and 47 strikeouts. His .343 on-base percentage is slightly below his career average, while his .378 slugging percentage is .051 points lower than his career average.
He's an above-average hitter in 2025, in his 16th season in the MLB. His production at the plate makes him a very likely candidate to draw interest at the MLB trade deadline. With his expiring deal and older age, he likely won't net a strong return for the Guardians. But if the team isn't in a position to make the postseason, trading away Santana for any prospects would make some sense.