Free Agent Carlos Santana Signs With New Team for 2026

He'll turn 40 a week after Opening Day, but first baseman Carlos Santana has no intentions of hanging up the cleats just yet. He's signed a free agent deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

D-backs, 1B Carlos Santana reportedly agree to one-year deal, per multiple reports including MLB's @SteveGilbertMLB. pic.twitter.com/rjABhLuKMO
— MLB (@MLB) February 3, 2026

It's a one-year deal, worth $2 million. This will be the 9th team for Santana in what will be his 17th MLB season.

The Snakes had been linked to another, more familiar veteran first baseman earlier this offseason, as they were said to have interest in Paul Goldschmidt. But it's Santana who'll wear the D-Backs jersey instead.

Carlos Santana will play 1B and DH for D-Backs

Santana is a switch-hitter, and will likely act as the weak-side platoon partner for left-handed hitting Pavin Smith at first, while also getting at-bats at DH. The veteran Santana has fared well against southpaws in his career, batting .274 with an .818 OPS, both much higher numbers than against righties.

If there's one thing he knows how to do, it's get on base. He has a career .352 on-base percentage, and is the majors’ active career leader in walks with 1,330.

He's a former All-Star (2019) and Gold Glove Award winner (2024) and overall is an above-average hitter for his career with a 112 OPS+.

All of those numbers took quite a dip in the 2025 season, and it was fair to wonder how much he had left. But he's a valued team leader, and defensively at first base, he can certainly still flash the leather. He finished 3rd among first basemen in the majors in Outs Above Average with +8, and Runs Saved with +6.