Jake Arrieta slams ex-teammate Carlos Santana in assessing Phillies’ season

The Philadelphia Phillies had a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs, but pitcher Jake Arrieta wasn’t afraid to say that the clubhouse was better because of the departure of one of his teammates.

Arrieta singled out former first baseman Carlos Santana’s departure as improving the clubhouse atmosphere and did so in pretty stark terms.

“Well, the culture was better here this year without him,” Arrieta said, via Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I can tell you that.

“Why it was better without Santana? We had better guys in the clubhouse. That’s it. A lot more veteran presence.”

That’s about as harsh a condemnation of an ex-teammate as you’re likely to see. Santana infamously smashed a TV in the clubhouse during the 2018 season because he felt the players were playing too many video games, which led to questions about the clubhouse environment. Arrieta apparently didn’t appreciate the way that was handled if he’s willing to call Santana out publicly and suggest that his departure made things better.

Santana was traded just one year into a three-year deal. It’s pretty obvious that Philly’s front office agreed that he needed to go.