Carlos Santana is set to sign with the Chicago Cubs, a move that would add a veteran presence at first base as the club pushes toward the end of the season. The 39-year-old slugger hit .225 with 11 home runs in 116 games for the Cleveland Guardians before being released Friday, and the agreement is expected to become official on Monday.
Santana is a switch-hitter, but his workload with the Cubs is likely to skew toward right-handed at-bats. Chicago has often leaned on left-handed starters this season, and Michael Busch has been the regular first baseman while veteran Justin Turner has spell appearances. With rosters expanding to 28 on Monday, the Cubs will have several options to determine Turner’s future with the club, depending on how Santana fits in.
In other Cubs news Sunday, Chicago claimed right-hander Aaron Civale off waivers from the White Sox, recalled right-hander Porter Hodge from Triple-A Iowa, optioned left-hander Jordan Wicks to the top farm club, and designated left-hander Tom Cosgrove for assignment. The club also is calling up outfielder Kevin Alcantara and sending down Owen Caissie.
Civale, 30, carries a 3-9 record with a 5.26 ERA in 18 starts this season between the White Sox and Brewers, who traded him to Chicago’s cross-town rival in June to acquire first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated Civale is expected to work out of the bullpen, providing length if needed.
Hodge, 25, is 2-1 with a 6.85 ERA and two saves in 26 appearances for the Cubs this year. In his last nine appearances for Iowa stretching back to August 1, he has struck out 20 and allowed six hits over 12 scoreless innings.
Wicks, a 25-year-old first-round pick from the 2021 draft, has gone 0-1 with an 8.71 ERA in six relief appearances for Chicago this season. Cosgrove has a 2.25 ERA in two appearances.
The Cubs head into the final month of the season as the No. 1 seed in the National League wild-card race, though they sit 6.5 games behind the division-leading Brewers in the NL Central as of Sunday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Summary: The Cubs bolster their lineup and bullpen depth with the addition of Carlos Santana and several roster moves, aiming to optimize their late-season push while navigating a tight wild-card race and a fluctuating first-base situation. Positive trajectory: veteran leadership and flexible roster options could help Chicago finish strong and create options for 2025.