Phillies rumors: Carlos Santana could have a healthy trade market

Before you comment, take a look at the latest Phillies rumors regarding Carlos Santana

The cynical Phillies fan will say Carlos Santana’s trade value is less than a bucket of baseballs, and to some, that may be true. With the latest Phillies rumors surrounding Santana’s standing with the organization, it sounds as if the organization is more than willing to move the 32-year-old first baseman.

When Santana signed a three-year $60 million deal he was touted as a power-hitting first baseman with a ridiculous on-base percentage who could mentor Maikel Franco. In one way or another, all of that happened. Santana hit 24 home runs, walked 110 times with a .352 OBP, and he did, in fact, take Franco under his wing.

Unfortunately, that effort did not turn into wins for the Phillies or endearment for Santana. Fans wanted more power, a better batting average, and a brand new Franco in the middle of the lineup. Was that too much to ask, or did Santana’s price tag set those expectations?

Regardless, Santana is enemy number 1A/B/C/D, whatever you want to make it, right now in Philadelphia, especially among Phillies fans for the reasons mentioned above.

Already this offseason we’ve looked at how the Phillies could trade Santana and his contract and how the Twins are a potential trade partner.

Minnesota, while a great fit, isn’t the only trade partner Philadelphia could find this offseason for Santana.

Editors for FanSided’s MLB sites are preparing for a full offseason simulation, which requires each team to list their individual team’s needs.

Currently, eight teams have noted that they plan to either sign or trade for a first baseman: Minnesota, Tampa Bay, Texas, Detroit, Baltimore, Colorado, Washington, and the New York Yankees.

Half of those teams appear to be contenders, while the other half are likely in a rebuild.

I should also note that many of those teams are American League clubs, adding another spot for Santana as a designated hitter, thus expanding the market for him even more.

Philadelphia Phillies

Baltimore doesn’t feel like a fit because they’re at the bottom of the league and are paying Mark Trumbo and Chris Davis more than $31 million combined next season.

Minnesota felt like a good trade partner because the Phillies could take on the contract of reliever Addison Reed and still get a prospect in return. A team like the Yankees might be more willing to take on some money for Santana, while the Rays likely wouldn’t because of their financial limitations.

However, the Rays only have one player (Kevin Kiermaier) on a long-term contract, and a relatively cheap one at that. If C.J. Cron is the DH going forward, Santana could easily start for a team that quietly won 90 games last year.

The Yankees have several young first basemen, but could easily upgrade. It’s unlikely the Phillies could snag prospects Clint Frazier or Justus Sheffield, neither of whom the Yankees would trade for Giancarlo Santon, let along Santana, but MILB ranked the Yankees farm system entering the 2018 season as the fourth-best in baseball.

Each team has reasons to want or pass on Santana. No deal is exactly the same, so should the Phillies trade Santana it could take several forms. Philadelphia could be adding prospects, major league talent, taking on another bad salary, or packaging Santana with someone else for another player.

It wouldn’t shock me if the organization trades Santana, but only after they have acquired an outfielder like Bryce Harper. The sole purpose of moving Santana off the depth chart is to clear room for Rhys Hoskins at first and open left field up to Nick Williams, Roman Quinn, or potentially prospect Adam Haseley by the end of the year.