Dennis Santana has to be feeling a sense of deja vu right now. It is probably not a good feeling. 

Santana was designated for assignment on Thursday by the Pittsburgh Pirates after the team traded for relief pitcher Ron Marinaccio from the San Diego Padres. It was a needed move for the Pirates as they try to solve their season-long bullpen woes, with Santana's struggles being one of the biggest issues. 

What makes it even more noteworthy, and quite frankly bizarre, is that this is not the first time Santana has been designated for assignment to make room for Marinaccio. 

It has now happened with two different organizations.

The story begins on June 9, 2024, when the New York Yankees recalled Marinaccio from Triple-A Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The corresponding roster move?

Designating Santana for assignment, a move that ultimately helped him arrive in Pittsburgh.

Obviously, it is not Marinaccio's fault, and it is not like he is purposely following Santana around and trying to sabotage his career, but it is still a bizarre little piece of absurdity that it has happened two different times. 

The odds of it are staggering, especially given how little Marinaccio has actually pitched in his Major League Baseball career (just 172 innings in 141 career games over parts of five seasons).