Braves Releasing Carlos Santana From Triple-A Gwinnett Minor League Deal

The Braves are expected to release Carlos Santana from his minor league contract with Triple-A Gwinnett today, per ESPN's Jeff Passan as reported by AJ Eustace of MLB Trade Rumors. The 40-year-old first baseman, who joined Gwinnett on a non-roster deal at the end of June, will become a free agent and look to latch on elsewhere for the stretch run.

What he did at Gwinnett

Santana's time in Triple-A was, by most measures, a quiet success. In 104 plate appearances for Gwinnett, he reportedly batted .292/.385/.382 with a 108 wRC+, an 18.3% strikeout rate, and a 12.3% walk rate — numbers that look considerably more like the patient, on-base-oriented hitter he's been for most of his career.

That stands in sharp contrast to how his 2026 began. With Arizona, Santana hit .083/.154/.125 in 26 plate appearances before a right adductor strain landed him on the injured list in early April. After struggling through a rehab assignment, the Diamondbacks designated him for assignment on June 24th. The Braves picked him up a few days later.

Why Atlanta is moving on

The parting isn't a reflection of his Gwinnett performance so much as a roster geometry problem. Matt Olson holds down first base in Atlanta, and the designated hitter spot has been occupied by Ronald Acuña Jr. when he's not in the field, with Dominic Smith handling most of that time when Acuña is playing. Per the report, there simply wasn't a clear path to 26-man roster time for Santana in that configuration.

What's next

Santana has suited up in the majors for the Pirates, Brewers, Twins, Guardians, Cubs, and Diamondbacks since the start of 2023, so he's no stranger to finding a new address mid-season. His Gwinnett numbers give him something to show a potential employer, and per the report he'll be looking for a team with a more navigable route to playing time. Whether any club bites before the stretch run remains to be seen.