MLB rumors: Indians interested in Carlos Santana reunion

The Indians are hoping to bring back first baseman Carlos Santana when he becomes a free agent after this season, sources told Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.

Heyman’s one source told him that it is “just a matter of finances” and other sources told him that Santana would also like to return. However, no offers have been made by Cleveland, which is currently riding an American League-record 22-game winning streak.

Santana has been incredibly productive for the Indians this season, his seventh in the majors. He has a slash line of .266/.374/.481 while posting a 3.7 WAR, hitting 23 home runs and driving in 77 runs. Since the All-Star break, the 31-year-old has been even better, batting .313 with a 1.025 OPS that ranks second in the American League (minimum 30 games).

Santana, who is making $12 million this year after the Indians exercised his option, hopes to continue his production in the postseason, where he showed his versatility for the Tribe last year by playing in the outfield for the first time in the World Series. He also came up with big hits in the Fall Classic before the Indians fell to the Cubs in seven games.

If he becomes a free agent, Santana would be in a pool of first baseman that includes Eric Hosmer, Logan Morrison, Lucas Duda, Yonder Alonso, Mark Reynolds, Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli. Hosmer is the biggest name on the market, considering he is putting up career numbers this year (.325/.393/.514 and 4.0 WAR) and is only 27 years old.