Last year right-hander Ervin Santana signed a one year deal with Atlanta, unable to find a multi-year offer, at the value of the qualifying offer. After turning in a solid 2014, going 4-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 31 starts Santana took advantage of a suddenly strong pitchers market inking a 4-year deal worth $54 million with the Minnesota Twins, with a conditional option worth $14 million in 2019 if he throws more than 200 innings. He will receive a $1 million buyout if the Twins don’t exercise the option.
Santana pitched for the Los Angeles Angels for the first eight years of his career and the Kansas City Royals in 2013.
As always the deal is contingent on Santana passing a physical. He is 119-100 in his career and has surpassed 200 innings in five of his 10 seasons. The Twins will surrender their second round pick,currently No. 44 overall, for signing Santana.
Santana joins a rotation that features, Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco, Kyle Gibson and either Trevor May/Mike Pelfrey/Alex Meyer or LHP Tommy Milone. The Twins previously signed free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter earlier this winter, but the Santana signing Thursday marked the first pitching acquisition of the offseason.
