Philadelphia Phillies: A second look at Carlos Santana

A deeper look at the Phillies signing of Carlos Santana.

The Carlos Santana signing by the Philadelphia Phillies in mid-December is correctly referred to as “the biggest free-agent signing” by the club since Cliff Lee was brought to town a second time, before the 2011 season. Philly.com writer Matt Gelb also referred to the former Cleveland Indians first baseman as “someone who reaches base at an elite rate and adds value as a defender.”

The “elite” on-base notion prompted a deeper dig into the idea of Santana as a $20 million a year investment, the amount the Phillies gave him on average for three years.

The value in a baseball player is relative – relative to both contemporary peers and relative to all historical peers within reason. It is best not to go too far back for comparisons since the game evolves, or more accurately, the players’ abilities change. Reasonable similarities, however, are sometimes revelatory.

For example, many fans would likely assert that Ty Cobb was the best-ever at putting the ball in play – not striking out. Far fewer probably know Ty Cobb’s Ty Cobb in that regard was a guy named Joe Sewell.

So, let’s compare Santana to two other competent first basemen justly called “elite” regarding reaching base, Kevin Youkilis, and Keith Hernandez.