Johan Santana is now making progress after undergoing shoulder surgery twice in a three-year span. The 34-year-old free agent is throwing up to 90 feet in Florida, agent Chris Leible of the Legacy Agency told sportsnet.ca.
Santana missed the 2013 season to recover from the shoulder capsule surgery he underwent in April. He’s now feeling much better than he did following the first operation and remains optimistic about his chances of returning to form in 2014, according to Leible, one of the left-hander’s representatives. The two-time Cy Young Award winner previously felt discomfort while sleeping and driving but can now live his day to day life pain-free.
In 12 seasons at the MLB level, Santana owns a 3.20 ERA with 1988 strikeouts in 2025.2 innings pitched. He won Cy Young Awards with the Minnesota Twins in 2004 and 2006 before being traded to the Mets. Santana pitched the first no-hitter in Mets franchise history in 2012 after missing the entire 2011 season.
Following the 2013 season, the Mets declined a $25 million option on Santana and paid him a $5.5 million buyout instead. The timeline for his next contract remains uncertain, but teams have expressed interest in him.
