Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Braves Grant Carlos Santana His Release, Making Him a Late-Season Free Agent

The move clears the 40-year-old to seek a roster spot with another club before the Sept. 1 cutoff for postseason eligibility.

Overview

  • The Atlanta organization granted Santana his release from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday, leaving him free to sign elsewhere for the stretch run.
  • Santana produced a rebound at the plate in Triple-A, hitting .292 with a .385 on-base percentage and two homers in 104 plate appearances for Gwinnett.
  • He did not appear for Atlanta at the major-league level in 2026, and the club’s entrenched first-base depth, led by Matt Olson, limited his path to the big-league roster.
  • Santana’s 2026 season included an early-April right adductor strain, a rehab stint, and a June 24 designation for assignment by the Arizona Diamondbacks before he signed a minor-league deal with the Braves on June 28.
  • If Santana signs with a new team before Sept. 1 he would be eligible for that club’s postseason roster, a timing detail that will shape his chances to return to the majors this year.