What won’t you eat?: WFNY Staff Chat
July 30, 2020
The Top 20 in 2020: Ranking the 20 best Browns players for 2020
August 4, 2020
Statistics used in this article do not include the July 30 2020 game against the Minnesota Twins.
Emotional ties are an important component of cheering for a sports team. Having those ties bond generations add to the depth of care. Thus, players who link across eras, while asserting a prominent position themselves on franchise leader boards, become an essential part of the fandom narrative; sometimes even transforming to legend.
Carlos Santana is such a player.
He caught Jake Westbrook, Justin Masterson, and Fausto Carmona.1 Santana shared a dugout and field with Jim Thome, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Shin-Soo Choo, while taking command from manager Manny Acta.
Carlos Santana was present for the rebirth of competitive baseball on the Southern Lake Erie shores as Terry Francona manned the helm. Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber, Cody Allen, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall, and others rose through the Tribe’s development system to integrate with essential trades and free agent signings such as Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Andrew Miller, and Edwin Encarnacion to ensure the team never finished with more losses than wins in any season since 2012. Among all of these teammates, it was appropriate that Santana was who caught the final out of the 2016 American League Championship Series to send the franchise to the World Series.2
Even the dark-year of 2018 where he wore the uniform of the Philadelphia Phillies added to his legacy on the Northcoast of Ohio. That particular season ended with Santana frustrated by the lack of focus his teammates demonstrated during a failed contention run. The public became aware of his particular displeasure when reports of television screens meeting their demise via a few mighty Santana swings filtered out from the city of brotherly love.
The following offseason saw him return by trade to his rightful place as a member of the Cleveland Indians.3 And, a glorious homecoming it was as Santana put up arguably his finest offensive season as he was named to the All-Star game– in Cleveland!– won a Silver Slugger award, and received AL MVP votes.
Unfortunately, 2020 has the potential to be the final season Santana wears the Indians uniform and not just because the ballclub is considering a change of name. His present contract has a $17.5 million 2021 team-option with only a $500,000 buyout for his age 35 season.4 Perhaps the sides can agree on a new deal, but the existing one is likely to be considered too expensive for the cost-conscious Tribe.5
Thus, intial discussions of where Santana might find his legacy can and should commence with the focus here being on where he might reach on the franchise leader boards. The 60-game slate will limit his ability to topple some of the iconic names ahead of him, but there are still new heights he might reach.
Value added
Santana has already provided more offensive value (o-bWAR) for the Indians than Albert Belle and Grady Sizemore, and he had a real chance to jump into the Top 10 had the schedule been a full slate of games. Instead, his focus should be on Al Rosen as climbing even one spot over 60 games will take a successful year at the plate. Even such a success might not be enough to climb the one spot he needs to reach the Top 10 in win probability added, though it is possible.6
Runs added
Oh, this category is fun. Santana could well end up with more than 30 of both RBIs and Runs in 2020. If he does so, then he will be passing up names such as Hafner, Rosen, Turner, and Graney. By the time you read this article, he might have already passed up Avila.
Reaching base
Of course, when the legend of Carlos Santana is told, the uncanny ability to see pitches and determine balls from strikes will be a prominent portion of the tale. Even conservative estimates– assuming health– have him taking his rightful place behind only Jim Thome in bases acquired via a walk. Despite that proclivity, Santana also can boost himself up on the hit total board… it would take quite an amazing clip to reach Dale Mitchell given the abbreviated schedule though.
Power
What good is it to see the ball well if one doesn’t hit for power? Well, no one has to ponder that question with Santana as he is quite adept at hitting the ball with authority and gaining extra bases on those hits as a result. He already is within the Top 10 for extra base hits with a real opportunity to achieve a Top 5 standing by season’s end. He also will likely sit in the Top 5 for home runs. Doubles are a different story, his current ranking at No. 10 is likely to remain unchanged.
Closing Thoughts
Carlos Santana has been a blessing for the Cleveland Indians in the 10 seasons he has played for the team. Hopefully, he is able to find a way to stay with the franchise in 2021 and beyond. However, regardless of what the future may hold, his legacy within the franchise is secure and should conclude with a dedicated plaque within Heritage Park.
- Or Roberto Hernandez, depending on which name you would like to use. He also caught Jensen Lewis back when he was a relief pitcher for the Tribe and not a relief commentator for STO. Let’s not forget Tony Sipp, Mitch Talbot, Ubaldo Jimenez, and so many others. [↩]
- Within the 2016 World Series, the former catcher turned third baseman turned first baseman would add outfield to his repertoire to ensure Encarnacion’s bat would be present for games without a designated hitter. Yes, he recorded a put out. [↩]
- And, he returned to a house he never sold as Northeast Ohio is his home. [↩]
- Also, of note, the Seattle Mariners are paying $4 million of his $17.5 million 2020 salary. They are not responsible for any of his 2021 contract. [↩]
- The 2021 team-option was unlikely to be accepted even before the current economic climate. Given the loss of revenues from the shortened 2020 season, it would be quite surprising to see it exercised. [↩]
- Rocky Colavito and Tito Francona are the players just behind him in that statistic. [↩]
