Hector Santiago

Hector Santiago

36-Year-Old PitcherP
 Free Agent  
2025 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Hector Santiago in 2025. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
$Signed a one-year contract with the Mariners in May of 2021.
Banned for 80 games
PSeattle Mariners  
Suspension
July 29, 2021
Santiago has been suspended for 80 games after testing positive for exogenous testosterone, in violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Santiago faced a 10-game ban earlier in the season for having a foreign substance on his glove. He'll now face a lengthier suspension and will not appeal. Santiago should be able to serve about 55 games of the suspension by the end of the campaign, meaning he could be reinstated at some point in May of the 2022 season.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
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2012
Santiago threw 180-plus innings in both 2015 and 2016, but he pitched just 70.1 frames last year as injuries cost him most of the final four months. The lefty got off to a great start with Minnesota, posting a 2.43 ERA and 23:8 K:BB in five April starts (29.2 innings), but he then gave up a whopping 11 homers in May before a muscle strain in his throwing shoulder forced him to the disabled list. Upper-back pain ultimately put Santiago on the shelf for good. His strikeout and walk rates weren't too far off from his marks from the previous two years, but his 6.5 K/9 was his lowest in a full season. Santiago's home-run rate exploded to 1.9 HR/9, and as a flyball-heavy, soft-tossing lefty in this offensive environment, the long ball is likely going to remain an issue. After an offseason of rest, Santiago should find himself competing for a rotation spot on a pitching-needy team in spring training, but he's a ratios grenade with no strikeout upside.
Santiago scuffled in three months of the season with a 5.25 ERA but bounced back with a 6-0 record and 1.78 ERA in six starts in July. He was then surprisingly traded to the Twins and failed to adapt to his new club, posting a 5.58 ERA with 13 home runs allowed in 11 starts. Santiago has always been one of the most flyball-heavy pitchers in the league and compounds that problem with a lack of control. Both issues were exacerbated last season with a career-worst 1.63 HR/9 and poor 3.91 BB/9. Perhaps Minnesota's new brain trust can harness his July success. While he'll likely enter the season comfortably in the middle of the Twins' rotation, he'll need to reverse last year's trends to keep a spot in the rotation and earn one on fantasy clubs. This is a contract year for Santiago, and the Twins would undoubtedly like to trade him to a contending team this summer, so it is in everyone's best interest that he gets off to a strong start.
Santiago looked primed to put together his best season in the majors after securing a rotation spot out of spring training, and he went into the break as an AL All-Star with a sparkling 2.33 ERA and 34 walks in 108.1 innings. The second half was a different story as his control completely left him, leading to a 5.47 ERA over his final 15 starts. Santiago is generally able to keep the ball in the park despite routinely being among the most flyball-heavy pitchers in the league, but the lack of grounders caught up with him in a big way in 2015 (career-worst 1.4 HR/9). His role on the club is uncertain heading into 2016 with Tyler Skaggs and C.J. Wilson eyeing healthy returns following surgery.
Manager Mike Scioscia kept a tight leash on Santiago in his first year with the Angels, as his start against the A's on April 14 was the only time he pitched at least seven innings all season. Aside from usage issues, Santiago seems to be losing velocity at an alarming rate, as his average fastball fell below 91 mph last season after being clocked at 93.8 mph in 2011. This trend correlates to a precipitous drop in Santiago's strikeout rate, which fell below 20.0% in 2014 after being as high as 25.8% during his rookie year in 2012, though some of that decline is the function of making the transition from reliever to starter. Walks are still a major concern, but Santiago posted a 2.98 ERA despite a 4.0 BB/9 in the second half of the season. With Tyler Skaggs expected to miss the 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August, Santiago will likely have a shot to regain a spot in the rotation in spring training.
Santiago started the 2013 season in the bullpen, but he was in the White Sox's rotation by May after injuries took down the team's other starters. His screwball is the most novel element of his arsenal, but his sinker was a more effective pitch. He pitched particularly well in July, when opposing hitters hit .197 off him in five starts, but his effectiveness waned as the season progressed and he posted monthly WHIP's above 1.60 in August and September. His strikeout rate also fell during these months -- he had a 9.4 K/9 through July, but it fell to 6.1 over his final nine starts. This could be a sign of fatigue or diminishing skills as the innings accumulated. Sent to the Angels as part of a three-team swap in December, Santiago will try to secure a place in the back of a new-look Anaheim rotation.
Santiago surprisingly won the White Sox's closer role out of spring training to start the 2012 season, but he lost the job after blowing two saves and posting an 8.53 ERA in April. The club stretched him out later in the season, and he made four September starts. His repertoire is a bit unique in that he relies heavily on sinkers and screwballs, both of which helped him strike out 28 batters over his final 22 innings. He should continue to build up arm strength in the offseason as he pitches in the Dominican League and plans to play in the World Baseball Classic. Santiago should be in the mix for one of the final spots in the White Sox's rotation this spring.
The White Sox recalled Santiago in late June when injuries hit the pitching staff, and he appeared in only two games during his 24 days with the club. He looks more like a reliever at this point, but he will probably begin 2012 as an organizational starter at Triple-A. His leap to Double-A last season came with a slight decline in his strikeout rate (8.01 K/9IP) and a big spike in his walk rate (4.22 BB/9IP). He will need to improve the latter in order to remain a starter as he continues to advance through the system.
More Fantasy News
Pair of frames in return
PSeattle Mariners  
July 28, 2021
Santiago (suspension) fired two innings in a loss to the Astros on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on four hits and a walk.
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Returns from suspension
PSeattle Mariners  
July 27, 2021
The Mariners reinstated Santiago to the active roster Tuesday after he completed his 10-game suspension.
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Suspension upheld
PSeattle Mariners  
Suspension
July 15, 2021
Santiago's 10-game suspension was upheld Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
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Allows one run in abbreviated start
PSeattle Mariners  
July 12, 2021
Santiago allowed one run on two hits and a walk while striking out one over three innings Sunday against the Angels. He did not factor into the decision.
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Thrust into rotation
PSeattle Mariners  
July 11, 2021
Seattle manager Scott Servais said Santiago will start Sunday's game against the Angels, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.
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