JUST-IN; Proven Veteran Leadership: Why The Yankees Must Target This 39-Year-Old Free Agent To Fix First Base In 2025..

Christian Walker’s three-year, $60 million contract with the Houston Astros is a blow to the New York Yankees, who could have really benefited from adding a power-hitting infielder like him. Although they missed the opportunity to sign him, they can still focus on securing a solid first baseman for the 2025 season. Carlos Santana, who had a bounce-back year with the Minnesota Twins, could be a cost-effective option, offering reliable defense and adding another power threat to the Yankees’ lineup. With his swing suited for Yankee Stadium and stats that align well with young Ben Rice, Santana could be the perfect veteran addition.

Carlos Santana’s Resurgence in 2024 In April 2024, few Minnesota Twins fans would have expected Carlos Santana to turn his season around. After 20 games, he had posted a poor 19 wRC+ and only one home run, struggling to make solid contact with the ball and hitting ground balls at a 45.3% rate, looking as though his career might be over.

But on April 25th, Santana made an adjustment to his loading mechanics during an at-bat, and everything changed. After taking a first-pitch ball, he crushed a sweeper 400 feet into right field for his first home run of the season. This sparked a remarkable turnaround, as he finished the year with a 129 wRC+ and a .460 SLG% over his next 130 games, becoming a key contributor to the Twins’ lineup.

Despite the Twins missing the postseason, Santana’s offensive improvement raised his stock significantly. What looked like a potential farewell season turned into a solid campaign, with Santana posting a 3.0 fWAR and a 114 wRC+ for the year, making him an appealing option for teams in need of a first baseman.

Concerns and Fit with the Yankees There are concerns with older hitters trying to pull the ball more, as this can lead to an increase in chase rates or contact issues. However, Santana’s plate discipline and contact rates actually improved, allowing him to maintain a solid on-base presence while hitting for power. His pull-side power could make him a perfect fit for Yankee Stadium, which has the highest wOBA on pulled fly balls for left-handed hitters since 2015.

Given Santana’s adjustments, he is now a highly attractive free-agent target, and his potential fit with the Yankees is ideal.