Even after leaving Cleveland, Carlos Santana remained a fan favorite and was warmly welcomed back as a visitor

The Cleveland Guardians knew all along that the likelihood of a Josh Naylor trade was high entering the off-season. And while they have Kyle Manzardo ready to be an everyday contributor, they never stopped looking for a potential complementary option,

Hometown discount. It's the idea that a player will leave a little money on the table in order to return back to a place that

The house in Bratenahl, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, had special meaning for Carlos Santana and his wife, Brittany. It was the first home Santana, a native of the Dominican Republic, purchased in the United States, back in 2012 after he signed his first multi-year deal. All four of the Santanas’ children were born in the Cleveland area.

Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana, who began his major league career in Cleveland in 2010 and returned for a second stint in 2019, signed a one-year contract with the Guardians on Monday.

The Cleveland Guardians will have a new first baseman in 2025 following the Josh Naylor trade. However, this "new" player is one that fans are more than familiar with. Cleveland has reportedly signed Carlos Santana to a one-year deal, and he'll return to the organization where he makes his major league debut for a third stint.

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Carlos Santana Part 3 is official. The Guardians announced the signing of the switch-hitting first baseman on Monday afternoon. The news of Santana agreeing to a one-year $12 million deal broke Saturday night, right after the Guardians traded first baseman Josh Naylor to Arizona.

The Guardians have reunited with a longtime veteran of the organization, as Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that the club is in agreement with first baseman Carlos Santana on a one-year, $12MM deal.

So much of this offseason has evidently been about the Mariners unwillingness to spend money, but that doesn't appear to be the case here.

On Monday’s podcast, Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down the trade and what Santana’s return could mean for rookie Kyle Manzardo. They also pay tribute to baseball legend Rickey Henderson, who passed away on Saturday. Listen and read along with an AI-generated transcript of the podcast below.

Twins first baseman Carlos Santana avoids an inside pitch during a game at Target Field last season. (Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)