The Orioles are nearing a minor league deal with former AL Cy Young winner Johan Santana, tweets Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio tweeted earlier today that Santana was in Orioles camp and wondered if something might be cooking between Baltimore and the Peter Greenberg cilent. The Orioles view Santana as a potential lefty reliever, tweets MLB.com's Britt Ghiroli.
Santana, who turns 35 in 10 days, did not pitch in 2013 after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder for the second time in three years. Santana's last work came in 2012, when he was excellent through the season's first half. That strong stretch was highlighted by the first no-hitter in Mets history on June 1, when Santana shut down a strong Cardinals lineup. However, Santana also walked five in the game and needed a whopping 134 pitches to complete the no-no — 26 more than he'd thrown in any other start of the year. Santana posted an 8.27 ERA over his next 49 innings before being shut down for the season.
One of the best Rule 5 Draft selections in history, Santana broke out with the Twins in 2002, posting a 2.99 ERA in 108 innings. Over the next five seasons in Minnesota, Santana posted a 2.92 ERA and won a pair of AL Cy Young Awards before being traded to the Mets for a package of prospects highlighted by Carlos Gomez and former No. 3 overall draft pick Phil Humber. Santana signed a six-year, $137.5MM extension with the Mets and was solid when on the field but looks poor in hindsight due to his injury troubles.
Would be less happy about it being with an AL East rival, but I’d like to see him find success in the majors again.
this is awesome…if there is anything left in the tank its all upside. great move
Agree 100%. Signing Santana to a MiLB deal let’s him rehab and if he doesn’t work out no big deal. But if he somehow throws well and can compete in the Bigs its a brilliant move. Good job DD!
Santana was lobbing at 88.5mph a surgery ago. the Venezuelan Jamie Moyer? even in a best-case scenario it’d be painful-to-watch replacement level stuff.
Johan Santana’s shoulder vs an Orioles’ Physical…get your popcorn ready
are we really still doing this
What’s more is that Ubaldo and Cruz signed since then AND PASSED THEIR PHYSICALS, people need to stop whining about the physical, its a really old and lame joke.
Don’t forget Yoon as well who was coming off of injury.
Right, I forgot about him. Orioles are signing a ton of guys, no reason for anyone to complain.
I didn’t hear all this nonsense last year when Napoli flunked his physical and the Red Sox re-worked his contract to one year… or this year when the Phillies dropped Gaudin’s contract… it happens all the time
I was tired of the Orioles physical comments… until I read this one.
This is so 3 months ago.
Mixed feelings. Wanted him back with the Twins but also didn’t want to see a Santana who is possibly a shell of himself. I’d like to remember him as the dominant pitcher he was.
Hopefully whenever he is done he’ll sign a one day contract with the Twins and retire.
This is disappointing, really wanted him back with the Twins.
Orioles can’t go wrong with this
Better than giving the other Santana $50+ million.
Can’t be any worse than all the other pitchers picked up mid year the last 2 years by the O’s. Feldman, Norris, Saunders. Now we won’t have to trade any prospects for a new #4 starter down the stretch. Don’t know about him as a reliever though. Could he end up the closer at the mid point of the season?
You are in serious denial if you think he will end up as a number 4 starter. He is this years Jamie Moyer. Temper your expectations appropriately.
Is that supposed to be a bad thing?
When Moyer was 35 he had a 3.53 ERA, pitched 234 innings, went 15-9 and had a 1.18 WHIP. I’d say that’s plenty good enough to be a #4 starter.
You’re nuts if you think the plan could be for Santana as a #4 in the rotation. The numbers of injuries and failed promotions would have to be pretty large in number for Santana to make it that far up the ladder. I’m thinking the O’s are being a bit sneaky and could be considering him as a lefty out of the pen. If he’s healthy, but not strong enough to start games, he could be a nice twist coming out of the pen throwing three different pitches. I don’t think the O’s believe he’ll offer much more than middle relief at this point in his career — and that’s if he gets healthy enough to pitch again.
Josh Stinson, TJ McFarland, Jair Jurrjens, Steve Johnson and Freddy Garcia are just 5 of the 14 pitchers who started a game for the Orioles last year. Even the World Series champs had 11 different pitchers start. Adding potential depth in Santana at basically no cost and no risk is not a bad move by Baltimore. Silly to suggest it is.
You know Saunders won 2 playoff games for the Orioles in 2012.
You all realize he barely threw 80 with his fb in his tryout day. He never makes the big leagues again and is gone by July after he forces them to release him after not calling him up despite a 4+ ERA.
He won’t be ready to go until mid summer… guy is still rehabbing. This is a depth signing.
He is this years Jamie Moyer signing part two. Look it up because we all know it’s going to end that way.
Umm… no we don’t. Santana suffered from an arm injury, which he is working his way back from. Moyer suffered from ancientitis, from which there is no cure.
Basically what Bleed Orange said. He’s still rehabbing. The last time table I heard is that he’d be ready in June or July.
Still, two shoulder surgeries is definitely very concerning so I can understand doubts about what he’ll be able to do. I have doubts that he’ll do much.
As an ORIOLE fan living in NY metro area in a family full of METS fans. My fellow family members absolutely did not want him back under any circumstances so this may not turn out to be much…..go O’S
slow news day
Great move
Time to check in on Barry Zito.
Or Carl Pavano….oh wait, this is a minor league deal, not a $40 million dollar deal
Solid move, absolutely no downside to this. Potential rewards are awesome, and even if he doesn’t amount to much at the ML level, the signing is worth it just to have him around the O’s pitchers.
Like this deal for the O’s. High upside low risk.