The necessary formality of the qualifying-offer dance between the Indians and Carlos Santana appears complete, with FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reporting the not-at-all-surprising news Monday that Santana will turn down the Indians' one-year, $17.4 million offer. The Indians had made the offer to ensure they recoup Draft pick compensation should Santana sign elsewhere, and there was never a serious expectation that Santana would accept it.
But that doesn't mean the Tribe is done with Santana. Far from it. On the first day of the General Managers Meetings in Orlando, Fla., on Monday, Indians GM Mike Chernoff said the club is interested in retaining both Santana and outfielder Jay Bruce (who was not eligible to receive a qualifying offer because he was traded during the season).