The White Sox are looking to add a veteran leader, and a division rival who spent over a decade tormenting them could be an ideal fit.
Carlos Santana is a free agent, after a down season that saw him hit just 11 home runs and own the highest strikeout rate of his career at 26%. However, he has the power that plays well in Rate Field and has drawn walks at a 14% clip throughout his 16-year career.
Santana brings plenty of veteran experience. In over 9,000 plate appearances, he has amassed 335 homers and 1,136 RBIs while also providing above-average defense at first base, a position the White Sox struggled to fill last season.
Miguel Vargas and Lenyn Sosa appeared at first base in nearly two-thirds of the White Sox games. While Vargas was serviceable in his 63 games, Sosa’s play left something to be desired. Santana would provide a defensive upgrade.
The 39-year-old is only a year removed from winning a Gold Glove in Minnesota and posted 8 Outs Above Average last season, a mark that ranked in the top five percent of the league.
He spent the bulk of his career in the American League Central, most notably with the Cleveland Guardians, where he had three separate stints spanning 2010–2017, 2019–2020, and 2025. His 227 home runs and over 900 walks rank among the club’s all-time leaders.
While Santana can’t be expected to replicate the form that made him an All-Star and Silver Slugger, he remains an ideal short-term stopgap that the White Sox could likely ink on a short-term deal.
