The New York Mets have been searching for luck since Endy Chavez made a catch in the 2006 NLCS. That search will continue longer as ace, Johan Santana, may have re-torn his throwing shoulder on Thursday.
Santana, threw 199 innings and posted a 2.98 ERA for the Mets in 2010. He missed all of 2011 due to tearing the anterior capsule in his throwing shoulder and may require the exact same surgery again. If needed, it would mean the end of Santana’s 2013 campaign and he threw his last pitch in a Mets’ uniform. At 34 years of age, Santana may have thrown the last pitch of his Major League career.
For the Mets, it’s another major player suffering another major injury. Santana was in the final year of a seven year, $137.5 million dollar deal, at the time of signing making him the highest paid starter in history. While the lefty put up a few ace-like seasons for New York, if he misses this season he will have thrown just 117 innings combined on the final three years of his deal.
New York does have options to fill the rotation. Jonathan Niese was named the new Opening Day starter, Matt Harvey is back in the fold and someone like Jeremy Hefner may now crack the rotation as the fifth starter. Top prospect, Zach Wheeler is poised to take another step towards his MLB career in 2013 as well.
The Mets never appeared to make a serious push to trade Santana’s contract, even as they were content to let other high paid players like: Jose Reyes and Jason Bay walk, and traded guys like Carlos Beltran. Now it’s unlikely the Amazin’s will even get a draft pick for the pitcher the team was once focused building the franchise around.
