The Chicago Cubs are signing Carlos Santana days after he was released by the Cleveland Guardians, according to multiple reports.
Santana, 39, had a .215/.316/.333 slash average for Cleveland with 10 doubles, 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 455 plate appearances this season. Yet he was in the lineup less during August as the Guardians gave more playing time to Kyle Manzardo and rookie C.J. Kayfus. Over the past month, he batted .186 with a .503 OPS in 48 PAs.
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Adding Santana seems a bit curious since the Cubs are already getting strong production at first base. Michael Busch is batting .264/.343/.503 with 26 home runs and 76 RBI. At designated hitter, Seiya Suzuki has 28 doubles, 27 homers and 87 RBI to go with a .247/.325/.478 average.
Yet Santana is expected to sub in for Busch at first base when the Cubs face a left-handed pitcher, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. Busch is batting .195/.262/.299 versus lefties, while Santana — who is a switch-hitter — has a .235/.328/.353 average as a right-handed hitter against left-handers.
Santana’s addition might not bode well for Justin Turner, who had been playing at first base versus lefties. Turner has better numbers against left-handers, batting .271/.319/.435 and is hitting .212/.383/.315 overall. He is also likely to stick around because he’s a valued clubhouse leader. But as that .315 slugging percentage and his three home runs indicate, Turner is not providing much power.
Cubs sign pitcher Aaron Civale off waivers
Additionally, the Cubs signed pitcher Aaron Civale, bringing him across town after the Chicago White Sox placed him on waivers. While the Cubs officially announced signing Civale, the team has not confirmed adding Santana. Both players have to be on the roster by Sept. 1 to be eligible for postseason play.
Civale, 30, compiled a 5.37 ERA and 2-7 record in 13 starts for the White Sox this season while striking out 55 batters in 67 innings. Milwaukee traded him for Andrew Vaughn in June after he recorded a 4.91 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 22 innings.
For his career, Civale has a 4.18 ERA and strikeout rate of 8.1 per nine innings. He has also pitched for the Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays in his seven MLB seasons.
Civale has never pitched as a reliever, making all 135 appearances of his career as a starter. The Cubs seemingly have a full rotation with Shota Imanaga, Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Colin Rea and Javier Assad. But Civale could be insurance while Jameson Taillon and Michael Soroka recover from injuries. Or he could be used to give some starters a rest during September.
Porter Hodge was also called up from Triple-A Iowa, where he averaged 14.5 strikeouts per nine innings. In an earlier stint with the Cubs this season, he notched 25 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings.
The Cubs (78-58) went into Sunday’s MLB slate trailing the Brewers by six games in the NL Central. They currently hold the league’s No. 1 wild-card playoff spot.
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