Guardians place former All-Star Carlos Santana on waivers

Carlos Santana’s latest go-around with the Guardians looks like it could be over.

Cleveland placed the first baseman on outright waivers on Tuesday, The Athletic first reported.

Santana, 39, was back with the Guardians — on a one-year, $12 million contract — for what was his third stint with the franchise after he debuted with the club back in 2010.

Always known for a keen eye at the plate, Santana’s offensive numbers have taken a nosedive this season, as he holds a .225/.316/.333 slash line with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs.

He’s particularly struggled in the second half with a .509 OPS with no home runs and just three extra-base hits across 27 games.

Cleveland’s offense as a whole has been at the bottom of the league this season with a .664 OPS, 29th in all of MLB.

If this is indeed Santana’s last gasp with Cleveland, the 2019 All-Star would finish his 11 total seasons with the franchise with a .364 on-base percentage and an .805 OPS.

The move to place Santana on waivers — which allows the 29 other big league clubs to claim him — comes as the Guardians have gone 1-9 over their last 10 games and have slipped to 12 1/2 games back of the first-place Tigers in the American League Central and six games back of a wild-card spot.

Tensions boiled over in the Progressive Field dugout during the fourth inning of Monday night’s 9-0 loss to the Rays when starting pitcher Tanner Bibee yelled in frustration before manager Stephen Vogt confronted him.

“Emotions are high right now. Emotions are high with everybody,” Vogt told reporters after the game. “Tanner is one of the most competitive, fiery people I’ve ever been around, and he came in trying to pump the boys up. And I told him, ‘Not now. Take it downstairs.’”