Johan Santana signs minor league deal with Orioles
Johan Santana was throwing a fastball at only approximately 77 mph last week. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Baltimore Orioles signed former New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana to a one-year deal worth $3 million if he makes the roster after spring training, according to a report from CBSSports.com.
The deal comes a day after it was reported the two sides were close to a contract.
Santana, who turns 35 next week, missed all of 2011 and 2013 with shoulder injuries but worked out for seven teams last week in Fort Myers, Fla., throwing a fastball at approximately 77 mph. In 2012, he finished the season with a 8.27 ERA in his final 10 starts, but has been invited to play with the Orioles minor league team and attend Orioles spring training with the hopes of appearing on the mound in June, according to the report.
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Two years removed from throwing the Mets' first no-hitter in franchise history, the two-time Cy Young winner now finds himself buried on Baltimore's roster behind Ubaldo Jimenez, Chris Tillman,Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, Miguel Gonzalez, Kevin Gausman, Zach Britton and Suk-min Yoon. His prospect as a reliever is much more promising at this point.
The 34-year-old Santana has a 139-78 record with a 3.20 ERA over 12 seasons -- three years with the Mets and seven years previously with the Minnesota Twins. Last November, the Mets bought out his 2014 option, paying him $5.5 million to avoid the $25 million that would have been owed to him for this season.
Orioles slugger Chris Davis said in an ESPN report that he hopes Santana can regain his form and help Baltimore:
"In the past he was one of the best. Hopefully he can regain his form and be a help for us. There are some things you can't coach and experience is one of those things, and he definitely brings that to the table."
