Santana agrees to one-year, $6.7 million deal with Pirates

Santana, 36, finished with a league-average OPS last season, batting .202/.316/.376 playing for the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners. But his expected numbers, based on the power with which he hit the ball (an 81st percentile exit velocity) and his elite bases-per-ball rate (97th percentile), projected much better results, something that boosted his market.

In addition, no one had a higher percentage than Santana in defensive special formations last season, who saw a defense altered in 356 of his 362 appearances as a left-handed hitter. With a ban on special formations in 2023, the ambidextrous Santana could see significant upside.

After a midseason trade that landed him with the Mariners, Santana is quickly emerging as a leader, something the Pirates–whose oldest position player on the 40-man roster is 31-year-old Ji-Man Choi, acquired earlier this winter–desperately need.

Santana is entering his 14th season and has a career line of .242/.359/.432 with 278 home runs and 925 RBIs. He will be reunited with Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who was the Cleveland Guardians major league hitting coach when Santana joined the organization after a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008.

Although a strong defensive first baseman, Santana is best known for his discipline and power at the plate. He has had base-on-base rates above 13% in every major league season and has hit at least 18 home runs in each of his 11 full years in the majors.

The Pirates, whose payroll was in the bottom five in baseball this year for the fifth consecutive season, are expected to add more via free agency or trades this winter, a young core led by center fielder Bryan Reynolds, shortstop Oneil Cruz and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Starter Mitch Keller and closer David Bednar and anticipate the arrival of catcher Henry Davis, second baseman Nick Gonzales and right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester.