CARLOS SANTANA NEWS

Shipped to Seattle The Mariners acquired Santana and cash considerations from the Royals on Monday in exchange for right-handed pitchers Wyatt Mills and William Fleming.

Impact Santana had produced a below-average batting line in both 2020 and 2021 and looked to be set for his third straight subpar season this year, but a .357/.478/.554 run thus far in June has dragged his wRC+ up to 104. That's still a pretty uninspiring mark for a first baseman, but he should have a path to at least short-term playing time with Ty France out with a flexor strain. He could still start frequently as a designated hitter once France returns, but he's unlikely to be a particularly interesting fantasy option. The Royals called up top prospect Vinnie Pasquantino to take Santana's place on the roster and step in as Kansas City's everyday first baseman.

JUNE 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Two-RBI single in win Santana went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-RBI single in Sunday's loss to the Athletics.

Impact Santana came to the plate with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and though he was unable to clear the bases, he sent Andrew Benintendi and Nicky Lopez home to tie the game at two. The first baseman is on a three-game hit streak and has eight total hits in his last five games. Santana has raised his batting average from .191 to .216 during that span.

JUNE 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Scores twice in loss Santana went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Saturday's loss against the Athletics.

Impact Santana scored on a Cam Gallagher double in the fourth inning and a Michael Taylor homer in the eighth. The first baseman has had a rough season, starting June with a .161 batting average, but has since raised it to .207. He has 18 hits in 15 games this month, giving him a .340/.462/.528 slash line during that span. Santana will need to continue to produce to keep seeing consistent playing time, especially with several talented prospects in the Royals' farm system.

JUNE 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Greinke, Olivares return, power Royals to 3-1 win over A's

Zach Greinke tossed six innings of one-run ball, Edward Olivares hit two solo homers and the Kansas City Royals beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1

JUNE 25, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drives in five Santana went 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, five RBI and two total runs scored in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings win over the Angels.

Impact Santana hasn't hit a triple since 2019, so a cycle was never really on the radar. He was steady in this one, posting an RBI double in the second inning, a two-run homer in the fourth and RBI singles in the sixth and eighth. This was just his sixth multi-hit game of the year, though it was also his second four-hit effort, both of which have come in June. The veteran first baseman has a .210/.347/.333 slash line with four homers, 18 RBI, 15 runs scored and eight doubles across 196 plate appearances.

JUNE 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Royals take on the Angels after Santana's 4-hit game

The Kansas City Royals play the Los Angeles Angels after Carlos Santana had four hits on Tuesday in a 12-11 win over the Angels

JUNE 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals overcome Ohtani's 2 HRs, 8 RBIs to beat Angels 12-11

Shohei Ohtani hit two three-run homers and drove in a career-high eight runs, but Whit Merrifield led off the 11th inning with an RBI double in the Kansas City Royals’ 12-11 victor...

JUNE 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Takes seat Monday Santana isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Angels.

Impact Santana will get a breather after he went 1-for-5 with three walks over the last two games. Hunter Dozier is shifting to first base while Kyle Isbel draws the start in right field.

JUNE 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Friday Santana is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.

Impact Santana started eight of the past nine games and will receive a day off after posting a 1.060 OPS during that span. Hunter Dozier will move to first base while Kyle Isbel starts in right field.

JUNE 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Continuing to enjoy stable role Santana will start at first base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Giants.

Impact Manager Mike Matheny suggested earlier in June that Santana was likely to see his playing time take a hit moving forward, but that hasn't come to fruition just yet. The 36-year-old will stick in the lineup for the eighth time in nine games, with his improved production at the plate likely playing a major factor in him receiving steady at-bats. Dating back to June 7, Santana has slashed .409/.552/.636 while walking seven times and striking out just once.

JUNE 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Webb 7 shutout IP, Giants beat Royals 4-2 for 5th win in row

Logan Webb pitched five-hit ball over seven scoreless innings to win for the first time in a month, and the San Francisco Giants stretched their winning streak to five with a 4-2 w...

JUNE 15, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Homers in Thursday's win Santana went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Orioles.

Impact Santana started to lose playing time early in June, but with Hunter Dozier (side) out, the former has thrived at first base. The homer Thursday was Santana's third of the year and his first since May 20. The first baseman has a .190/.323/.307 slash line with 13 RBI, 11 runs scored and seven doubles overall, but he's now 6-for-13 in his last four contests. It's still tough to trust him to keep up a surge at the plate for more than a handful of days.

JUNE 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Royals beneficiaries of Santana's surge at plate KANSAS CITY -- The swing that Carlos Santana unleashed in the fifth inning Thursday night did all the talking about the offensive turnaround...

JUNE 10, 2022 • MLB.COM

Santana, Melendez homer in Royals' 7-5 win over Orioles

Carlos Santana and MJ Melendez homered, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 7-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles

JUNE 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Four hits against Jays Santana went 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, a run scored and an RBI in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Blue Jays.

Impact It's the first time all year the veteran slugger has recorded multiple extra-base hits in a game. Santana has begun to show flickers of life at the plate, going 7-for-13 over his last four starts with four walks, but his career-worst .611 OPS and woeful power numbers on the season -- two homers and 11 RBI in 39 games -- make him tough to roster in any fantasy format without a more prolonged hot streak.

JUNE 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Royals take on the Orioles after Santana's 4-hit game

The Kansas City Royals take on the Baltimore Orioles after Carlos Santana's four-hit game on Wednesday

JUNE 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Royals' bats awaken in 8-4 win over Blue Jays to avoid sweep

MJ Melendez and Emmanuel Rivera drove in two runs apiece, leading Brady Singer and the Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 to end a three-game losing streak

JUNE 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Manoah, Blue Jays shut down Royals 7-0

Alek Manoah scattered six hits in six scoreless innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 7-0

JUNE 8, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Losing playing time Santana is being moved to a part-time role, Josh Vernier of 610 Sports Kansas City reports.

Impact He is not in Friday's lineup and manager Mike Matheny said it's something Santana will have to adjust to going forward. Hunter Dozier is starting at first base in this one, and it may not be long before top prospect Vinnie Pasquantino gets the call from Triple-A.

JUNE 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Tuesday Santana is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Impact With the Royals giving Whit Merrifield a day out of the field and having him serve as the team's designated hitter, Santana will retreat to the bench while Hunter Dozier covers first base. Santana's move to the bench comes after he went 1-for-18 with three walks against five strikeouts in the Royals' last five games.

MAY 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

The Carlos Santana Train Should Be Reaching Its Destination Soon Regardless of which outcome occurs, Santana’s leash is becoming very short.

MAY 27, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Slaps three hits Santana went 3-for-5 in Monday's 9-5 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Impact All three of Santana's hits were singles. He's now hit safely in four straight games, going 6-for-16 (.375) with a home run, a pair of doubles, four RBI and two runs scored in that span. It's an encouraging burst of offense from the 36-year-old, who has been slumping at the plate for much of the year. He owns a .163/.305/.276 slash line with two homers, 10 RBI, nine runs scored and five doubles through 118 plate appearances.

MAY 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Smith, Walker homers spoil Greinke's return to Arizona, 9-5

Christian Walker and Pavin Smith homered and Ketel Marte’s two-run double broke a fourth-inning tie when Arizona beat Kansas City 9-5 in Zack Greinke’s return to Chase Field

MAY 24, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Urshela, Twins overcome 6-run deficit, rally past Royals 7-6

Gio Urshela hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning to complete Minnesota’s comeback from a six-run deficit, lifting the Twins over the Kansas City Royals 7-6

MAY 22, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Launches solo shot Santana went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-4 loss to the Twins.

Impact Santana entered Friday 0-for-19 in six games since returning from a stint on the injured list due to an ankle injury. He looked well on his way to another empty stat line before unleashing a solo shot in the seventh inning. The first baseman is batting a dreadful .128/.286/.233 with two homers, seven RBI, eight runs scored and three doubles through 105 plate appearances. His 18.1 percent walk rate is still solid, but he'll need to do more with the bat to avoid a potential reduction in playing time once the Royals' lineup gets healthier.

MAY 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE