Phillies And Twins Are Ideal Trading Partners For Carlos Santana

PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies are said to be actively shopping first baseman and slugger Carlos Santana this offseason, largely so that they can move Rhys Hoskins back to first after a difficult year defensively in left field. A glance around baseball shows that no team matches up better with the Phillies on a potential deal than the Minnesota Twins.

Santana, who signed a three year deal worth $60 million last winter, struggled in April but regained his form the rest of the way, serving as one of the team's most consistent hitters. His .352 on base percentage was 24th in the National League, and his 24 home runs tied for 22nd. He trailed only Bryce Harper in walks (110).

Twins franchise staple Joe Mauer has retired, leaving Minnesota with a gap not only at first and designated hitter, but in terms of veteran leadership. Santana would quickly fill that gap.

Their current first baseman and designated hitter and former top prospect Miguel Sano is coming off a challenging year. He's a highly talented Domincan player who hasn't been able to achieve his potential: not unlike Maikel Franco. Santana, also Dominican, took Franco under wing in 2018 and Franco, when he played, blossomed. Sano, who has also dealt with off-field controversies, could benefit greatly from Santana's maturity.

Though there is not any chatter to suggest this is true, the relationship of Twins starting shortstop Jorge Polanco with the Minnesota organization is probably strained. He was suspended for the first half of the 2018 season after being caught using performance enhancing drugs.

But perhaps more importantly, the Twins have two top prospect shortstops in the wings, between speedster Nick Gordon and number one overall draft pick Royce Lewis. Shortstop is a position of organizational depth. Gordon is nearly ready, meaning that Polanco could be expendable.

Polanco, just 25, posted strong defensive numbers again in 2018, his third year in the majors, batting .288/.345/.437 (.773 OPS) with six home runs and seven stolen bases across just 77 games.

The Phillies could, and very well may, trade Santana elsewhere. But on paper, a quick glance around the league shows there is no better fit. Teams that have an obvious need at first or DH (Orioles, Royals, Marlins, Mariners, White Sox) are either not contending and unlikely to make a move, or have little they'd be willing to part with in return, or both. For other teams that could consider an upgrade at first (Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, Rays), Santana is not that different of a player from in-house options.

On the Phillies side, trading Santana obviously allows Hoskins to move back to first. In obtaining Polanco the team would have a hard-hitting and established middle-infielder to pair with Scott Kingery and J.P. Crawford. The logic of the move depends largely, of course, on Cesar Hernandez being traded separately, as has been a rumored motivation of the club for two consecutive offseasons (and is no sure thing).

Even if they don't receive Polanco in return, the Twins remain a good fit. Because of their need, they're more likely to part with something substantial than another club, and so long as they included money int he deal, the Phillies could ask about someone like prospect pitcher Stephen Gonsalves. An expensive reliever (a la Addison Reed) would also make some sense as a contract swap.

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