When you were once as good as Johan Santana was, it's a good bet some team will be there, waiting to offer you another chance. For 2015, that team is the Toronto Blue Jays.
Santana has agreed to join the Blue Jays on a minor-league deal with an invite to major-league spring training. It's the first step in either a feel-good comeback story or another stalled attempt by Santana to reclaim his MLB glory.
Santana, 35, didn't pitch in the big leagues in 2013 and 2014, but not for lack of trying. Shoulder surgery prevented him from taking the field in 2013 with the New York Mets. He signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles last year, but tore his Achilles tendon in June when the O's assigned him to extended spring training. Santana also missed the 2011 season because of shoulder surgery. He returned to pitch with the Mets in 2012, throwing a no-hitter but posting a 4.85 ERA in 29 starts.
This is a total gamble by the Blue Jays, since it's not remotely clear what kind of pitcher they're getting. His pedigree is well known — he's a two-time Cy Young winner who led the league in strikeouts for three straight years with the Minnesota Twins.
But coming off two shoulder surgeries and the Achilles injury, plus missing three of the past four seasons, he's a mystery. That's not to say he can't help the Jays, who have some wiggle room in their rotation, because he absolutely can. R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle are the veterans of the staff, with Marcus Stroman coming off an impressive rookie year. Youngsters Drew Hutchinson and Daniel Norris are hoping to find a place. The Jays also have Marco Estrada, who they got in return for Adam Lind.
What Santana contributes depends on his health and his stuff. He spent some of the winter pitching in the Venezuelan league, where he hit 90 mph and attracted scouts from MLB teams, before halting his efforts because of a sore shoulder.
As you can see, there are a lot of stalled comebacks in the Johan Santana story. Time will tell if this is another one.
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