Omir Santos

OMIR SANTOS
CATCHER
  Born: April 29, 1981
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Drafted: 21st Round, 635th Overall, 2001 (Yankees)
How Acquired:
Trade from Yankees for Kyle Haynes
College: East Central College
Agent: Praver/Shapiro

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

Santos has never hit much, but he has a very good defensive reputation.  Baseball America rated him the best defensive catcher in the Yankees’ system for two years.  He supposedly has a strong arm, but he’s generally thrown out only about 20% of base stealers in the minors.  Since 2006, he’s served mainly as upper level depth for various teams, mostly backing up in the minors but getting called up as a brief fill-in now and then.  He did spend one year playing semi-regularly for the Mets due to injuries.  The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract for 2014.

2001
A-:  274/310/333, 117 AB, 5 2B, 1 3B, 6 BB, 25 K, 0-1 SB

In his debut, Santos was the primary catcher for the Yankees’ NYPL affiliate.

2002
A-:  289/331/422, 232 AB, 10 2B, 7 HR, 12 BB, 32 K, 2-3 SB
A:  233/275/329, 73 AB, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 BB, 15 K

Santos spent most of his time back in the NYPL, where he hit well.  He also got a stint in low A.

2003
R:  000/000/000
A:  235/297/296, 277 AB, 11 2B, 2 HR, 25 BB, 36 K

In low A for most of the year, Santos didn’t hit much, but at least showed greatly improved plate discipline.

2004
A:  240/277/316, 171 AB, 7 2B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 27 K, 4-4 SB
A+:  286/341/403, 119 AB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 BB, 17 K, 1-1 SB

Santos struggled in the first half in low A, then hit uncharacteristically well in the second half in high A.  After the season, he made his only appearance on a Baseball America prospect list, as the Yankees’ 29th best prospect.

2005
AA:  252/289/369, 401 AB, 17 2B, 10 HR, 11 BB, 75 K, 0-1 SB

Santos mostly struggled in AA.

2006
AA:  269/317/361, 324 AB, 18 2B, 4 HR, 19 BB, 65 K, 1-1 SB

The Yankees sent Santos back to AA for another year and he hit just slightly better.

2007
AA:  211/231/263, 38 AB, 2 2B, 1 BB, 8 K
AAA:  234/278/335, 167 AB, 8 2B, 3 HR, 10 BB, 35 K, 1-2 SB

Santos spent most of his time in AAA and didn’t hit much.  He became a minor league free agent after the season and signed a minor league deal with the Orioles.

2008
AAA:  269/328/323, 297 AB, 13 2B, 1 HR, 20 BB, 57 K, 1-3 SB
MLB:  100/100/100, 10 AB, 2 K

Santos spent most of the season in AAA, but got called up in September to fill in.  The Orioles outrighted him after the season and he became a minor league free agent, signing with the Mets.

2009
AAA:  231/333/231, 13 AB, 1 BB, 2 K
MLB:  260/296/391, 281 AB, 14 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 15 BB, 44 K 

Santos opened the season in AAA, but the Mets called him up in mid-April when Brian Schneider got hurt.  He ended up doing half the Mets’ catching.  He held his own at the plate, showing a little power, and threw out 30% of base stealers.

2010
AA:  138/204/241, 58 AB, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 7 K
AAA:  194/216/306, 36 AB, 4 2B, 1 BB, 8 K

Santos spent the season backing up at two levels in the minors, but got very little playing time.  The Mets called him up for a few days around mid-season when Rod Barajas got hurt, but he didn’t play while with them.  They outrighted him after the season and he opted for free agency, signing a minor league deal with the Tigers.

2011
R:  000/333/000, 2 AB, 1 K
AAA:  245/259/318, 151 AB, 5 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 29 K
MLB:  227/227/227, 22 AB, 4 K 

Santos spent most of the season in AAA, but was called up briefly in April when Victor Martinez got hurt, then again late in the season.  Detroit outrighted him after the season, but he re-signed with them on a minor league deal.

2012
AAA (Det):  310/315/417, 151 AB, 5 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 17 K, 0-2 SB
AAA (Col):  311/320/437, 119 AB, 9 2B, 2 HR, 2 BB, 17 K
MLB (Det):  125/111/125, 8 AB, 1 K

The Tigers called Santos up for a week at the end of May.  He got into three games, then Detroit designated him for assignment.  He chose free agency and signed with Colorado, spending the rest of the season with their AAA affiliate.  After the season he signed with Cleveland.

2013
AAA: 248/285/354, 206 AB, 9 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 10 BB, 47 K
MLB:  100/100/100, 1 AB

Santos served mainly as a backup in AAA.  He got one at-bat with the Indians during a brief callup in April.  They designated him for assignment in July and he remained with their AAA affiliate.

2014
AAA:  200/310/320, 25 AB, 3 2B, 3 BB, 8 K

Santos got into only 11 games, spread throughout the season.

Santos will be a free agent again in the off-season.

STATS
Baseball Reference–Majors
Baseball Reference–Minors
Fangraphs
MLB.com
MiLB.com
CONTRACT INFORMATION
2014: Minor league contract
PLAYER INFORMATION
Signing Bonus: N/A
MiLB Debut: 2001
MLB Debut: 9/5/2008
MiLB FA Eligible: Eligible
MLB FA Eligible: 2019
Rule 5 Eligible: Eligible
Added to 40-Man: 9/5/2008
Options Remaining: 0 (USED: 2010, 2011, 2013)
MLB Service Time: 1.091
TRANSACTIONS
June 5, 2001: Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 21st round, 635th overall; signed on June 11, 2001.
October 29, 2007: Became a free agent.
November 28, 2007: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Baltimore Orioles.
September 5, 2008: Contract purchased by the Baltimore Orioles.
October 20, 2008: Outrighted to AAA by the Baltimore Orioles
November 3, 2008: Became a free agent.
December 23, 2008: Signed as a minor league free agent with the New York Mets.
April 17, 2009: Called up by the New York Mets.
November 4, 2010: Outrighted to AAA by the New York Mets; became a free agent on November 10.
December 6, 2010: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Detroit Tigers.
April 19, 2011: Called up by the Detroit Tigers.
October 31, 2011: Outrighted to AAA by the Detroit Tigers; opted for free agency.
November 16, 2011: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Detroit Tigers.
May 26, 2011: Called up by the San Francisco Giants.
May 30, 2012: Called up by the Detroit Tigers.
June 6, 2012: Designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers; became a free agent on June 8.
June 13, 2012: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Colorado Rockies.
November 3, 2012: Became a free agent.
February 5, 2013: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Cleveland Indians.
April 9, 2013: Called up by the Cleveland Indians.
July 14, 2013: Outrighted to AAA by the Cleveland Indians.
October 3, 2013: Became a free agent.
February 6, 2014: Signed as a minor league free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates.