Cubs to add former Brewers deadline addition for stretch run

On Tuesday, Reviewing the Brew's Tyler Miller explained how MLB teams can add players to their roster after the July 31 trade deadline by making use of the increasingly popular waiver claim system. As explained by Miller, this system gained popularity in 2019 after MLB banned any trades from taking place after the trade deadline (previously teams could make trades so long as the player in question cleared waivers prior to the deal being finalized). For more on the waiver claim system and why teams utilize it down the stretch, be sure to check out Miller's full article (link provided below).

3 playoff-tested veterans Brewers could find on waiver wire before stretch run

In his article, Miller also proposed three veterans with playoff experience that could be interesting additions to the Milwaukee Brewers' roster down the stretch. One of those names was 2023 Brewers trade deadline addition Carlos Santana, who had recently been placed on waivers by his current team, the Cleveland Guardians.

While the fit on the roster wasn't seamless, as he would be vying for at-bats with the likes of Andrew Vaughn, Rhys Hoskins, and Jake Bauers, Santana's success in Milwaukee back in 2023, paired with his ever-present elite glove at first base, made him at least an intriguing, cheap target for a minor upgrade to the Brewers' backup first baseman role. Back in 2023, Santana hit 11 HR and posted a .459 slugging percentage in 52 games with the Brew Crew. While his numbers have dipped considerably this season, the 39-year-old switch-hitting first baseman still has a little pop in his bat as he slugged double-digit homers for the Guardians this season.

A move to Milwaukee didn't make much sense, but another NL Central squad saw an opportunity to upgrade their bench for the stretch run. On Sunday morning, the Chicago Cubs officially added Santana to their organization.

Cubs sign Carlos Santana for final stretch after veteran first baseman's release from Cleveland

According to Patrick Mooney of The Athletic, the Guardians released Santana to allow the 16-year MLB veteran to "pursue an opportunity with a playoff contender." Though Santana has not said whether or not this is his final season, his lengthy MLB career is no doubt coming to an end sometime in the next few years, if not at the end of this season. As such, Santana wanted to have at least one more crack at a postseason run, and in Cleveland, where the Guardians would need an impressive final stretch to qualify for the playoffs, that opportunity wasn't a guarantee.

As a result, Santana elected to sign with the Chicago Cubs, who sit atop the NL Wild Card standings with a five-game cushion between where they are and missing out on a postseason berth. MLB insider Jon Heyman broke the news on the social media platform X earlier this morning.

In Chicago, Santana joins a roster that already includes Michael Busch and Justin Turner, both of whom practically only play first base (Turner has one start at third base this season). Turner has struggled to a sub-.600 OPS this season, so it's possible that the Cubs envision Santana replacing Turner as the backup first baseman to Busch. However, with the rosters expanding to 28 tomorrow, it's more likely that the North Siders will carry all three of Busch, Turner, and Santana, for at least part of the month of September, and delay their decision about which two to keep until a later date.

As previously mentioned, Santana isn't the slugger he once was. While his glove is still elite — his seven Outs Above Average are the second most of any first baseman in MLB — his bat, and more specifically his power, has taken a massive hit this season. His slugging percentage is nearly 100 points lower than his career average, his barrel rate and hard hit percentage are way down from where they were just last year, and he's carrying a .186 batting average in the month of August.

That said, Santana showed flashes of his former self earlier this season. He posted a .944 OPS in the month of May, and his walk rate remains in the 80th percentile of all MLB hitters, according to Baseball Savant.

It's certainly no guarantee that Santana becomes an impact player for the Cubs down the stretch, but given his extensive postseason experience, it's an interesting add for the North Siders, who no doubt feel some pressure to perform after being swept by the San Francisco Giants this past week.