3 moves Twins should make (and 2 to avoid) after signing Carlos Santana
By Josh Hill
Don't bring back Donovan Solano
This one hurts, but the addition of Carlos Santana pretty much negates any need to bring back Donovan Solano.
It could be argued that signing Solano was the best $2 million a team spent last season, as the veteran exceeded expectations and became an important piece of a team that marched to the ALDS. He filled in at first base while Alex Kirilloff go healthy, moved over to second base to fill in for Jorge Polanco, and even served as DH in certain lineups. Everything the Twins needed Solano to do he did, but it seems that chapter is now closed.
Santana will effectively fill the Solano role, as he adds depth behind Kirilloff at first and will likely be the Twins everyday DH. He also offers more potential power than Solano does, so almost every argument for why Minnesota should bring him back is moot. Perhaps the cherry on top is the fact that while he'd be on the cheap end, the Twins might want to spend every penny it can at other positions -- specifically outfield depth.
It's truly a bummer as Solano made it clear he wants to come back to Minnesota next season. There's a chance he does, but all signs seem to indicate that the signing of Santana ends the possibility of a reunion with Solano.