The Cubs optioned Santana to the Arizona Complex League on Friday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Santana had to agree to the option, and he will be part of the Cubs' taxi squad during next week's National League Wild Card Series against the Padres. The veteran first baseman has gone 2-for-19 at the plate since signing with Chicago at the end of August.
Santana agreed to a one-year deal with the Cubs on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Santana won't join the Cubs ahead of Sunday's game in Colorado, but he's expected to be activated prior to Monday's home game versus Atlanta. The 39-year-old switch hitter was cut loose by the Guardians on Thursday after he had produced a career-worst .649 OPS with 11 home runs and seven stolen bases across 455 plate appearances. The Cubs won't have regular playing time available for Santana, but he could prove to be an upgrade over Justin Turner (.598 OPS in 166 plate appearances) as the short-side platoon mate at first base for the left-handed-hitting Michael Busch.
Santana went unclaimed after being placed on outright waivers Tuesday. His playing time has dwindled over the past few weeks, and he owns a career-low .649 OPS through 455 plate appearances, so the Guardians will now eat the $2 million still remaining on Santana's contract and part ways with the veteran first baseman. He's now free to sign with whichever team he would like, though his age and declining production may limit the amount of interest he receives in the open market.
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Guardians' Carlos Santana: Placed on outright waivers
Rotowire
The Guardians have placed Santana on outright waivers, Zack Meisel and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.
Santana has started just 10 of 21 games since the Guardians called up C.J. Kayfus, and the club might now be ready to completely sever ties with the veteran first baseman. The 39-year-old is slashing just .225/.316/.333 in 2025 and is owed a bit more than $2 million for the remainder of the season, so it seems likely he'll clear waivers. The Guardians could keep Santana if that happens, but it's likelier at this point that they move on.
Santana is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta.
Santana went 1-for-5 with a pair of walks while starting the first two contests of the series, but he'll retreat to the bench for the series finale. The 39-year-old looks to be fading into a part-time role, as he's now been out of the lineup five times in the Guardians' last eight games.
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Guardians' Carlos Santana: Playing time dwindling
Rotowire
Santana is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Marlins.
It's the third time in the last four games Santana has been out of the lineup and the sixth time across the last 10 tilts versus right-handed pitching that the 39-year-old has sat out. C.J. Kayfus is handling first base for the Guardians on Wednesday.
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Guardians' Carlos Santana: Sitting in second straight
Rotowire
Santana is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
Jose Ramirez is getting a partial day off as the designated hitter, leaving no room in the starting nine for Santana. The switch-hitting Santana should still be locked into an everyday role against left-handed pitching, but he could have to settle for a part-time role versus righties if the Guardians remain committed to opening up playing time for younger bats.
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