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The Kansas City Royals have signed Carlos Santana, per Jon Heyman, taking the star first baseman off of the free agency market. Santana is signing a two-year contract worth $17 million. The news comes following the Cleveland Indians decision to decline his $17.5 million option for 2021.
Santana is coming off his worst season as a pro. Over 60 games in the shortened 2020 season, Santana put up a slash line of .199/.349/.350. It marked his first time below the Mendoza line. The previous season he was an All Star, claimed a Silver Slugger award, and even got some MVP votes after a .281/.397/.515 performance.
Santana entered the big leagues in 2010 and has spent all but one season with the Indians. He signed a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies following the 2017 season, but then got traded a year later to the Seattle Mariners. The trade turned into a three-team deal as he was subsequently dealt back to the Indians.