CLEVELAND, Ohio -- First baseman Carlos Santana, who has spent his entire big league career with the Indians, has signed a three-year $60 million deal with the Phillies.
Jon Heyman of Fanrags was first to report the deal. The deal includes an option worth $17.5 million for a fourth year.
Santana becomes the first top-shelf free-agent hitter to sign this winter. Now the question is will the Indians be able to bring back free agent outfielder Jay Bruce?
So far the Indians are 0-for-3 when it comes to retaining their free agents. In the last three days they've watched right-hander Bryan Shaw sign with the Rockies, right-hander Joe Smith with Houston and now Santana with the Phillies.
At least a half dozen teams were interested in Santana at the start of the winter meetings on Monday. The Indians, who made a three-year $36 million offer to Santana before he filed for free agency, were one of them.
Santana, a Gold Glove finalist as first base last season, hit .259 (148-for-571) with 23 homers and 79 RBI. He leaves the Indians are their career leader in homers and RBI for a switch hitter.
The Indians acquired Santana, 31, from the Dodgers in 2008 for Casey Blake and cash.
Besides Bruce, the Indians other free agents are Austin Jackson, Boone Logan and Craig Breslow.
Alan Nero, Santana's agent, said he would give the Indians a chance to counter what they felt was the best offer they received. Last year the Indians paid free agent Edwin Encarnacion a three-year $60 million deal. It was the biggest in franchise history for a free agent.
It appears the Indians weren't willing to duplicate it.
During the meetings, the Indians said they had explored backup plans for first base if they lost Santana. Free agent first basemen include Mike Napoli, Yonder Alonzo, Lucas Duda, Mitch Moreland, Chris Carter, John Jaso, Adam Lind, Mark Reynolds and Matt Adams.
Encarnacion and Lonnie Chisenhall can play first as well. There has also been talk about moving left fielder Michael Brantley to first base.
The Indians made Santana a $17.4 million qualifying offer, which makes them eligible for draft pick compensation in the June draft.