The Cubs are adding a 16-year veteran to the roster in first baseman Carlos Santana, the team announced Monday.

Santana was released by the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday. He had been placed on outright waivers but went unclaimed. The 39-year-old switch-hitter slashed .225/.316/.333 (.650 OPS) with 11 home runs and 52 RBI in 116 games for the Guardians this year.

The Cubs adding Santana before Sept. 1 would mean he’s eligible to play in the postseason. Infielder Ben Cowles was designated for assignment to make room for Santana on the 40-man roster.

Santana has seen more success against left-handed pitching this season — something that several Cubs, including first baseman Michael Busch, have struggled with this season.

The 27-year-old has mustered just a .195/.262/.299 (.561 OPS) slash line in 84 plate appearances against southpaws.

Santana, on the other hand, is slashing .235/.328/.353 (.681 OPS) with four home runs and 17 RBI in 137 plate appearances against left-handers. Because of that, he could very well be a platoon option for the Cubs versus lefties into September and beyond. The Cubs as a team have a .736 OPS against left-handers this season, but own just a 17-19 record against lefty starters.

Santana also plays elite defense at first base, having won the Gold Glove last season with the Minnesota Twins. His seven outs above average this season are tied for second-most among MLB first basemen this year.

Santana was in his third stint with Cleveland, having made his MLB debut with the club all the way back in 2010. He’s a career .241 hitter with 335 home runs and a .778 OPS across his lengthy resume.

He spent one season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 before returning to the Guardians and putting together his first and only All-Star campaign in 2019, when he also won a Silver Slugger Award. Santana then bounced around five different clubs before returning to Cleveland on a one-year, $12 million deal this year.