On Monday evening, the Minnesota Twins announced that utility player Danny Santana, who was designated for assignment last Friday, was traded to the Atlanta Braves for left-handed reliever Kevin Chapman and cash considerations.
Santana is a career .266/.300/.381 hitter over 280 career MLB games — all in a Twins uniform — but his production has sagged greatly since he finished seventh in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2014. That season, Santana hit .319/.353/.472 while playing in 101 games between shortstop and centerfield. That season, his line was buoyed by a .405 BABIP (batting average on balls in play).
For reference, here are the AL average BABIPs the last five years:
- 2013 – .298
- 2014 – .298
- 2015 – .296
- 2016 – .298
- 2017 – .288
In 179 games since his rookie season — 551 plate appearances, so roughly a full season — Santana has hit just .225/.258/.310. While he’s given the team defensive flexibility over that time frame — he’s played every position but first base and catcher — he’s not a plus defender at any position, and is more toolsy than he is refined, both at the plate, on the bases and in the field.
The Braves claimed Chapman on waivers from the Houston Astros on March 13, then outrighted him off the 40-man roster on March 31. In other words, the Twins still have an open 40-man roster spot after this move. Chapman’s first cousin is Matt den Dekker, who is currently playing at New Orleans (Triple-A, Marlins).
Chapman turned 29 in February, and has pitched 55 innings at the big league level. He’s got a 4.09 ERA (4.28 FIP) with 7.9 K/9 but also 5.1 BB/9. Chapman’s average fastball is in the 92-93 mph range — a two-seamer — and he’s run it as high as 95.7 mph in the past. His velocity was down in his limited stint with the Astros last year, and he’s been hit pretty hard at Triple-A Gwinnett this season. He’s got a 7.71 ERA this season (10 earned runs in 11.2 innings), and opposing batters have hit .311/.360/.422 against him.
On the positive side, Chapman has a career minor-league K/9 of 11.1, and the MLB swinging strike rate on his slider is 12 percent.
It’s also worth noting that Chapman has neutralized left-handed hitters quite well over his time in the minor leagues. It’s possible he’s the second coming of Ryan O’Rourke, as the latter recovers from Tommy John surgery.
Chapman will report to Triple-A Rochester. Their roster was full at 25 players, so a move will have to be made.
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