Santana Throws, But Appears To Be Months Away From Majors-Ready
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- John Santana may one day pitch in the majors again, but likely not off of Tuesday's workout.
The former ace left-hander threw in front of representatives of seven teams, including the Yankees, at a high school in Fort Myers, Fla., CBSSports.com and WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reported.
However, the results show he's still likely a long way from being ready for consideration for a contract. Santana, who will turn 35 in mid-March, reached 81 mph, and threw several pitches between 77 and 78 mph, the NY Post reported.
Santana was a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner with the Minnesota Twins before signing a six-year, $137.5 million contract with the Mets in 2008. However, his tenure in New York was marred by injuries to his pitching shoulder. He went 16-7 with a 2.53 ERA in his first season and followed that up by going 13-9 with a 3.13 ERA in 2009, but then was lost late in the 2010 season with a torn capsule in the front of his shoulder.
The subsequent surgery cost Santana all of the 2011 season. He returned in 2012 and had moments of brilliance, including pitching the only no-hitter in Mets history, but a lower back injury shelved him for the rest of the year.
Santana underwent another torn capsule surgery on April 2, 2013, and missed the entire season.
The Mets then declined Santana's $25 million option for 2014, paying the veteran southpaw a $5.5 million buyout.
He finished his Mets career 46-34 with a 3.18 ERA in 109 starts. Overall, Santana is 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 seasons.
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