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E-mailPittsburgh acquires Santiago for prospect and cash
Santiago, who is three months shy of his 40th birthday, attributes his longevity and durability to good genes and regular trips to the gym.
"My age is just something on a piece of paper," Santiago said Thursday after being acquired by the Pirates in a trade with the Kansas City Royals. "My mom and I laugh about that all the time. I don't feel my age, that's for sure."
Santiago joined the Pirates after passing a physical he took Tuesday at PNC Park. The Pirates will receive about $1 million from the Royals, who will receive Class A pitching prospect Leo Nunez.
As for suspicions that Santiago's youthfulness and fit-and-trim physique might be chemically enhanced, he would prefer to let those allegations bounce past like a wild pitch.
Santiago is linked to baseball's steroids scandal. He testified, under immunity, before a federal grand jury last December in the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative case. He allegedly admitted using banned substances supplied by Barry Bonds' trainer, Greg Anderson.
The case could go to trial this spring, but it's a subject Santiago prefers not to discuss.
"I just look forward, not back," he said yesterday from his home in Florida. "That was over a year ago. You have to let it go and just be yourself and do the best you can in the future. I don't really want to get into that. I'm just happy to be a member of the Pirates."
Manager Lloyd McClendon doesn't think Santiago's role in the BALCO case will be a distraction to his first camp with the Pirates.
"I'm sure it's something he's ready to put behind him," McClendon said. "I'm happy to have this guy and someone of this caliber on my club. He has a tremendous track record, and I think he can help this team."
A 19-year-veteran, Santiago answers the need for a veteran catcher in the wake of the Jason Kendall trade to the Oakland Athletics on Nov. 27. The plan is for Santiago to split time with unproven Humberto Cota.
"That's not a problem with me," Santiago said.
Prior to last season, when a broken hand limited him to 49 games, Santiago averaged 122 games in three seasons with the San Francisco Giants. Despite not playing since early June, Santiago vowed to be in tip-top shape when he reports to spring training. He already has started his hitting program and plans to attend the team's mini-camp in January.
"I know people might be worried by the fact I'm going to be 40 years old, but I don't think like that," he said. "I have a young body. I have no problems with my body. It's not about my age. It's about playing good baseball."
If Santiago catches more than half of the games this season, he could accomplish an individual goal. Santiago ranks seventh all-time with 1,911 games caught. Only Bob Boone, Gary Carter and Carlton Fish have surpassed 2,000.
His injury-shortened 2004 season aside, Santiago thinks he can bring some punch to the Pirates' offense. Two years earlier, at 37, he made the NL All-Star team and batted .278 with 16 homers and 74 RBI with the Giants.
"The last five years, I've been putting up better and better numbers," he said. "I have a lot of pride in that. It's not going to go down soon."
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