Santana and the Pirates are in agreement on a one-year contract, pending the results of a physical, according to sources.
Santana hit. 202/.316/.372 between Seattle and Kansas City last year, finishing with a league-average OPS. His expected numbers were based on how hard he hit the ball and his elite walk rate, which resulted in better results.
Santana saw altered defense in 347 of his 362 left-handed batting appearances. The switch-hitting Santana could benefit from the ban of the shift.
The Pirates, whose oldest position player on the 40-man roster is 31-year-old Ji-Man Choi, desperately need Santana to emerge as a leader.
Santana is entering his 14th season and has a career line of.242/.362/.423 with 278 home runs and 955 runs scored. Santana joined the organization following a trade from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and will be rejoining the Pirates manager who was the big league hitting coach for Cleveland when he was there.
Santana is well known for his plate discipline and power. He has hit at least 18 home runs in each of his 11 years in the major leagues, and he has posted walk rates of greater than 12% in every big league season.
The Pirates, whose payroll was among the bottom five in baseball this year for the fifth year in a row, are expected to add via free agency or trades this winter. Closer David Bednar and starterMitch Keller are anticipating the arrival of catcher Henry Davis and other players.
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