Phillies: Five players who disappointed this season

3. Carlos Santana

Philadelphia gave Carlos Santana the sixth-biggest contract of the offseason behind Eric Hosmer, Yu Darvish, J.D Martinez, Lorenzo Cain, and Jake Arrieta. His $18.3 million salary this year was the fifth-highest among free agents and he’s the highest-paid position player on the Phillies.

Santana was thought to be a veteran bat in the middle of the lineup who’d hit .260 with 25 home runs and 100 walks. He’s contributed with 21 home runs and the fourth-most walks in baseball, but the consistency has not been there in his bat.

The 32-year-old is hitting just .227 this year and from June 1 to July 31 he hit .211 with 13 extra-base hits.

Pushing Rhys Hoskins into left field, Santana was also thought to have a Gold Glove caliber glove at first. He’s committed 10 errors at first base, by far the most he’s ever had in a season and the most in all of baseball.

While the 93 walks and just 84 strikeouts are impressive, it’s not enough to support what Santana hasn’t done at the plate.

Many fans are ready to move on from Santana, but given the money remaining on his deal the Phillies aren’t likely to admit a major free agent mistake so early. Santana has also swung the bat well in his last 25 games, hitting .258 and in September hitting over .350. A late season surge could convince the Phillies Santana is still capable of carrying a high batting average and force their hand into keeping him at least one more year.