Analysis: Signing Carlos Santana upgrades Pirates at 1st base, where defense is priority

When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded for Ji-Man Choi two weeks ago, general manager Ben Cherington said he felt good about it as a “first move” — a hint more could be on the way.

Cherington continued to address first base, the position that proved most problematic for the Pirates last season. They used nine players there — including two who had never played the position in the major leagues — who combined for 12 errors and as many mental mistakes.

After adding Choi, Lewin Diaz was claimed off waivers Tuesday from the Miami Marlins. Both were moves that received a ho-hum reaction from a frustrated fan base waiting the Pirates to finally start spending.

On Friday night, Cherington made a splash in the free agent market by signing first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year, $6.725 million contract.

The Pirates are making quite a financial investment in someone who will be 37 the day after the home opener, a one-year rental who batted .202 with a .692 OPS last season for the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners. Santana will become the Pirates’ third-highest paid player, making $250,000 less than outfielder Bryan Reynolds next season.

What Santana brings is incredibly valuable experience to a Pirates roster whose longest-tenured player, starting pitcher Mitch Keller, doesn’t turn 27 until April. A 13-year veteran who was an All-Star and won an AL Silver Slugger with Cleveland in 2019, when he hit 34 home runs and had 93 RBIs, Santana owns a resume that includes hitting five career postseason homers and playing in a seven-game World Series in 2016.

Santana’s presence is especially valuable for an infield where the Pirates appear committed to Oneil Cruz at shortstop and Rodolfo Castro at second base after trading Kevin Newman to the Cincinnati Reds.

Santana can lend a veteran voice to a clubhouse in desperate need of leadership. As a fellow Dominican, he can speak the language of and provide guidance to Cruz and Castro on how to approach the game and prepare as professionals and help both fulfill their potential.

More than anything, the combination of Choi, Santana and Lewin gives the Pirates a major defensive upgrade at first base. Michael Chavis (82 starts) and Yoshi Tsutsugo (34) manned the position for most of the season. The Pirates designated both for assignment, Tsutsugo in early August and Chavis in late September.

The Pirates turned to middle infielders like Josh VanMeter and Diego Castillo, as well as waiver claims Yu Chang, Zack Collins and Kevin Padlo and even outfielder Ben Gamel. Cruz committed 17 errors, though several came on throws that a better first baseman would have scooped.

Where Chavis (plus-2), Tsutsugo (minus-1) and VanMeter (minus-1) combined for minus-3 defensive runs saved last season, Diaz (plus-5), Santana (plus-3) and Choi (minus-2) combined for plus-6.

The lefty-hitting Choi fared better against left-handed pitchers last season, slashing .294/.351/.373 but had 11 homers and 43 RBIs against righties. Where the switch-hitting Santana batted only .178 against righties but had 16 homers and 39 RBIs, he slashed .265/.387/.402 against lefties. Both are patient hitters with good on-base percentages.

Choi played 98 games at first base and 12 as designated hitter for Tampa Bay. Santana played 76 at first base and 50 at DH between the Royals and Mariners, so it’s possible the Pirates could platoon the two between the positions.

With Choi projected to make $4.5 million in arbitration, the Pirates could spend more than $10 million between first base and DH alone. That’s a high-priced platoon, especially compared to what they paid Tsutsugo ($4 million) and Daniel Vogelbach ($800,000) last season but, again, defense appears to be the priority.

“I think we just want to continue to find ways to add depth to the lineup,” Cherington said Nov. 11, after acquiring Choi for minor-league reliever Jack Hartman. “It could come from someone who could play first base or DH. It could come with players who can play elsewhere on the field. A combination, really. Just trying to build a deeper lineup.”

The Pirates have $25 million committed to four players — Santana, Reynolds ($6.75 million), third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes ($10 million) and outfielder Miguel Andujar ($1.525) — before they deal with arbitration-eligible players like Choi, starting pitchers Keller and JT Brubaker and relievers Robert Stephenson and Duane Underwood Jr. Those five are projected to receive $11.8 million, though it’s likely the parties will settle for less.

The Pirates have to be prepared to go deeper into their pockets to build a better lineup, and their young roster leaves them room to spend. Cherington has expressed a desire to add a starting pitcher to the rotation and more swing-and-miss to the bullpen. There also is a clear need to find a starting catcher, even if it’s a stopgap until top prospects Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis are ready for the majors.

It will be interesting to see how many more moves Cherington has up his sleeve and whether they can drastically improve a team that has lost 100 games in back-to-back seasons.