With just one week remaining before pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Florida and Arizona, Major League Baseball teams are far from winding down their offseason activities. Key free agents, such as starting pitchers Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen, are still available, and significant trades are still in play, including Monday’s three-team trade that sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners. To keep fans updated, CBS Sports has compiled the most important tweets from Tuesday into one easily accessible location.
Diamondbacks Sign Santana
The Arizona Diamondbacks, who had planned to start Pavin Smith at first base most of the time, have now secured veteran Carlos Santana on a one-year contract worth $2 million, according to 98.7FM. Santana, who turned 40 this past April, spent last season with the Guardians and Cubs, hitting .219/.308/.325 with 11 home runs and seven stolen bases. Known for his defensive skills at first base, he was estimated by Baseball Reference to have contributed an additional 1.1 wins. The Diamondbacks had shown interest in other first basemen like Ty France but seem to have chosen Santana to complement Smith, especially given Santana’s strong recent performances against left-handed pitchers.
Cardinals Seek Outfield Upgrades
The Cardinals’ offseason has largely involved shedding talent through trades—parting ways with players like Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and Sonny Gray. Nevertheless, St. Louis is actively looking to bolster its outfield roster before Opening Day. According to President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, the team aims to add outfielders either via free agency or trade. Current plans list Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott II, Jordan Walker, and Nathaniel Church in the outfield mix, with three being left-handers, which suggests the team may target right-handed hitters such as free agents Randal Grichuk or Miguel Andujar.
Fan Take:
This flurry of late offseason moves highlights how teams are still aggressively shaping their rosters even as spring training nears, underscoring the constant evolution and strategic depth of MLB. For fans, these developments mean exciting potential shifts in player roles and team dynamics that could significantly impact the upcoming season’s competitiveness and entertainment value.
