Off-topic. Why is it that when managers aren’t renewed/extended at the end of their contracts the press says that they were fired, but when teams fire a player while they are actively under contract the press says they were released?
By the managers’ standard, we’d be saying Santander is being fired once his contract expires this off-season. And that Cal Ripken Sr. was released eight games into the 1988 season.
Without being on a heater, he’s on pace for 27 HR and 115 RBI. His BA and OBP are a little lower than normal right now, but his 118 OPS+ is right in line with 120-121 from the last two years. Defensively, he’s played well. No big complaints about Santander so far, though I think his swing has looked a little loopy at times, generating a lot of pop-ups. His value hasn’t changed much from last year IMO.