Diamondbacks Sign Dennis Santana to Minor League Contract

The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed veteran reliever Dennis Santana to a minor league contract after he was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates in late July.

Initially expected to be the closer for the Pirates this season, Santana struggled with a 7.45 ERA in May and was soon replaced in the role. He recorded only two saves out of four opportunities before being removed from the roster when the Pirates acquired Ron Marinaccio.

In his previous seasons, Santana had shown promise, notably achieving a 2.18 ERA in 2025. However, his performance declined this year, with a 6.05 ERA and a significant drop in strikeout rate. The Diamondbacks, currently in contention for a Wild Card spot, have also seen their own closer Paul Sewald struggle, leading to speculation about potential changes in their bullpen strategy.