Cubs officially sign 16-year veteran, one-time All-Star

The Chicago Cubs signed former Cleveland Guardians’ first baseman Carlos Santana on Sunday morning, per MLB insider Jon Heyman. 

The 16-year major league veteran was released by the Guardians on Thursday after slashing .225/.316/.333 with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 116 games this season. 

Heyman also noted that other teams were interested in Santana as well.

Santana indeed goes to Cubs. Nice late add. https://t.co/oFcPKXUM6x

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 31, 2025

Santana to Cubs

The Cubs add an experienced veteran with 30 games of postseason experience to the lineup as they try to make a deep run this October. Chicago currently holds the top NL Wild Card spot but is 6.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead. 

Santana has bounced around MLB during the later stages of his career, playing for Cleveland, the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins. The 39-year-old hasn’t been with a team for more than one season since 2021-22 with the Royals. 

Santana’s best season came in 2019 with Cleveland after a short stint in Philadelphia. He made his only All-Star appearance and batted a career-high .281 with 34 homers and 93 RBI. 

Santana, originally from the Dominican Republic, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005. But he made his debut with Cleveland in 2010, and that’s where he spent the first eight seasons of his career. Prior to this season, he signed a one-year, $12 million contract with the Guardians as a free agent after a stint in Minnesota. 

Now Santana joins the Cubs, who wrap up their series with the Colorado Rockies today at 3:10 p.m. ET at Coors Field.