Start The Comeback Clock: Johan Santana Officially On Megallanes Roster

[Parker Hageman]

Ex-Twins pitcher Johan Santana, 35, has officially been added to the roster of the Navegantes del Magallanes in Venezuala:

 

https://twitter.com/OrmuzSojo/status/552566574079836161

 

According to local reporter Ormuz Sojo, the left-hander had thrown 36 pitches in the bullpen today and will pitch in a simulated game on Thursday. The league will start their round-robin postseason in January so it will likely give Santana only a handful of opportunities to showcase his stuff for potential suitors. 

 

Santana has not thrown a pitch in Major League Baseball since 2012 but he and his agent, Peter Greenburg, believed that if he were able to throw some innings in winter ball, Santana would be able to land a contract with a major league team. In December, 1500ESPN's Darren Wolfson reported that the Twins still have interest in Santana so they will likely be monitoring his progress closely.

[DaveW]

Worth a minor league contract, would be cool to see him in Minnesota again and maybe he could be a decent bullpen arm for them. Of course 1% chance he could get healthy and have a nice couple years as a mid rotation guy as well.

[ashbury]

would be cool to see him in Minnesota again

I think that's the sum total of it.  If his name were Miguel del Pelfrio, say, would anybody care?

 

The name's the same, but he's not even close to the same guy, I guess I'm saying.

[D. Hocking]

I suppose with the right minor league contract there is potential for a nice return.  That said, I am a bit doubtful there is a comeback story for him, and I would rather my last memories of him in the Twins system be of him at his best rather than watching him struggle to try for one last chance to make it in the majors.  Obviously, would love to be wrong about this.

[Linus]

Omg, no way.  Let's just move on....

[DaveW]

If we are gonna give Jason Bartlett an opening day roster spot, surely we can give Johan a minor league contract and invite to ST

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I think that's the sum total of it.  If his name were Miguel del Pelfrio, say, would anybody care?

 

The name's the same, but he's not even close to the same guy, I guess I'm saying.

 

I'm picturing Big Pelf coming to camp with un gigante moustache and trying to convince everybody that he's a different guy.

 

¿Quién es Mike? Me llamo Miguel.

 

 

related to this thread: I would enjoy Johan getting a minor league deal with ST invite, then coming up to the Twins to make a couple bullpen appearances towards the end of the year and retiring as a Twin. I think any larger committment would be a "Willie Mays falling down in the outfield" situation.

[ashbury]

I'm picturing Big Pelf coming to camp with un gigante moustache

Then my work here is done.

[Parker Hageman]

Looks like after tomorrow, Johan Santana will see live action on Tuesday:

 

https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/552990507203584000

[Bark's Lounge]

What is the old saying? Too Many Johan Santana's in the kitchen spoiled the soup.

[strumdatjaguar]

Johan Ervin Santana is already on the team and under contract for several years.  Why would we want to confuse the press by adding another one?

[JB_Iowa]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/12143372/johan-santana-attempting-comeback-torn-achilles-tendon

 

I'll be interested in seeing how he does.  Hoping for a fairy tale ending for one of my favorites,

[ashbury]

Hoping for a fairy tale ending for one of my favorites,

I expressed my share of skepticism (and maybe then some), but share your hope.