Three years ago, the Minnesota Twins traded Johan Santana to the New York Mets for center fielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra.
↵Of course the Twins don't have much to show for that trade with Gomez, Humber and Mulvey already gone and Guerra with the AAA Rochester Red Wings last season, but, at least to begin this season, the Mets won't have much to show for it either.
↵According to the Associated Press (via Michael Rand), the Mets are hoping that Santana will be able to return to the New York rotation in late June following a rehab process that began when Santana had his left shoulder operated on in mid-September.
↵↵↵The two-time Cy Young winner began tossing from flat ground two weeks ago. General manager Sandy Alderson said team doctors have a plan projecting Santana throwing from a mound by April or early May and pitching in the majors less than two months later. Santana said he is "optimistic" his career will not be affected by the injury - it was a tear in the anterior capsule, which he said is not a common ailment.
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Santana compiled an 11-9 record with the Mets last year though posted a respectable 2.98 ERA. With a salary of $20,144,707, it's hard to make the case that the Twins should have locked him up even though they weren't able to get much in return.