Mets Decline Johan Santana's $25M Option For 2014
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York Mets announced Friday that they have declined Johan Santana's option for next season, as expected.
Santana missed the entire 2013 season after re-tearing the capsule in his left shoulder.
The Mets signed Santana to a six-year, $137.5 million deal in 2008, which included a $25-million club option for 2014 with a $5.5 million buyout.
But a return to the Mets isn't completely off the table as he enters free agency. General manager Sandy Alderson said on WFAN radio in September that re-signing the one-time ace would be a "possibility." Santana also hasn't ruled out a return to New York, his agent told the Newark Star-Ledger.
Santana went 46-34 with a 3.18 ERA in 109 starts for the Mets. His most memorable moment in Flushing came on June 1, 2012, when he threw the first — and only — no-hitter in franchise history.
"I don't really know what Johan's thinking," Alderson said on Sept. 30. "We'll talk to him, I'm sure, over the next couple of weeks, but I think he wants to pitch. We'll just have to see what the market is for these guys, and how much of our resources we want to allocate to somebody coming off injury or somebody you hope was able to pitch for you at a higher level."
Santana won two Cy Young Awards with the Minnesota Twins and has a 139-78 lifetime record (3.20 ERA). He also missed the 2011 season following shoulder surgery.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
