Carlos Santana reportedly signed a three-year $60 million contract. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
The sound the Washington Nationals have been hearing this month from just up I-95 North is the Philadelphia Phillies, long considered a sleeping giant in baseball for their strong financial health and accelerating rebuilding effort, slowly roaring to life.
The Phillies made their most noise on Friday, reportedly signing free agent first baseman Carlos Santana to a three-year $60 million contract, the clearest sign yet they are ready to start building back up what they have spent the past few years tearing down.
While the Phillies, 66-96 and last in the National League East in 2017, are probably not ready to contend in 2018 — given the fact they finished 31 games behind first-place Washington this year — they have the financial wherewithal to continue spending in future offseasons and hope to put together another mini-dynasty of the sort that won five straight division titles from 2007 to 2011.
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Santana, a 31-year-old switch hitter with a career on-base percentage of .365, was a mainstay of the Cleveland Indians lineups that have produced three playoff appearances in the past five years, including the 2016 American League pennant. He joins a core of position players in Philly that also includes Rhys Hoskins, Aaron Altherr, Nick Williams and Maikel Franco. FanRag Sports was the first to report the signing.
Also on Friday, the Phillies traded shortstop Freddy Galvis to the San Diego Padres, a move that will open the shortstop job for top prospect J.P. Crawford. Earlier this week, they signed relievers Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek to two-year deals.
Next winter, the Phillies, who have few future payroll commitments beyond Santana, are expected to be major players in a free-agent marketplace that could include Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson and Clayton Kershaw.
Santana, who has also played catcher, third base and outfield during his career, has developed into a stellar defensive first baseman, but it is unclear how the Phillies will deploy him, as Hoskins, a breakout star last summer with 18 homers in only 50 games, is also a natural first baseman who played mostly in the outfield for the Phillies in 2017.
Santana was the first big-name position player free agent to sign during in otherwise slow-moving market. The Boston Red Sox were also believed to have been interested in him, but are also pursuing outfielder J.D. Martinez, considered the top free-agent hitter on the market.
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