Jays sign Johan Santana to minor league deal

[Raptors Realtor]

Worth the gamble... good upside!

http://www.tsn.ca/jays-sign-santana-to-minor-league-deal-1.217137

[Skin Blues]

His devastating 80 MPH change isn't much good if he can't throw his fastball that hard.

[Jatt]

His devastating 80 MPH change isn't much good if he can't throw his fastball that hard.

He'll just drop his 80 mph change to 60 mph, devastation reinstated.

[Lateral Quicks]

I'm still puzzled that AA - a guy who years ago professed to anyone who would listen that you needed fireballers to compete in the AL East - has brought in the likes of Dickey and Buerhle. Now we bring in Santana, a guy who can't break 90.

At least he's holding to the script with his drafting... Norris/Sanchez/Stroman/Hoffman/Osuna/Castro/etc. can all bring it.

[dagger]

AA did break with the long-time script by putting incentives into Santana's deal.

[Rhettmatic]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/571452572680261634[/tweet]

So I'm probably wrong in a simple way -- feel free to be condescending when you tell me so! -- but the 2.5M figure struck me as a bit steep for a guy who can't pitch. I know that's contingent on his making the roster but won't he really have to show something at Spring Training?

[BigLeagueChew]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/571452572680261634[/tweet]

So I'm probably wrong in a simple way -- feel free to be condescending when you tell me so! -- but the 2.5M figure struck me as a bit steep for a guy who can't pitch. I know that's contingent on his making the roster but won't he really have to show something at Spring Training?

I don't think Santana will start the season with us. But to reach the 25 GS mark he would have to throw about 160 Innings. I'm not sure if he would be able to get there even if he stayed healthy. By the time he is called up that 25 GS mark will be pretty thin to get.

Physically though, he hasn't started 25+ games since 2010. It's not likely we pay that 2.5 million but if he somehow manages too stay healthy, get called up and maintain it while pitching well he should be worth it as a 5th starter option. Alot of things have to go Santana's way though, the risk for Santana is career ending injury. The risk for the Jays is much less than that.

[Michael Bradley]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/571452572680261634[/tweet]

So I'm probably wrong in a simple way -- feel free to be condescending when you tell me so! -- but the 2.5M figure struck me as a bit steep for a guy who can't pitch. I know that's contingent on his making the roster but won't he really have to show something at Spring Training?

Since it is contingent on Santana making the team by April 28, there is very little risk on the Jays end. If Johan bombs, then the team loses nothing. If by some miracle he actually stays healthy enough to contribute in the big league rotation, then $2.5M is a small enough price to take a chance on someone who AA apparently feels still has something left in the tank. Personally, I don't like Johan's chances, but I don't think anyone could have predicted guys like Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Scott Kazmir, etc, coming back from their injuries/age and contributing at a high level, either. It's worth a shot, especially since the depth chart after Norris/Estrada (assuming Sanchez is in the pen) starts with Liam Hendriks.

[Skin Blues]

I would be ecstatic if Johan gets the incentive. 25 MLB-worthy starts is easily worth $4.5M. I think there's a very low chance of that happening, but hey, miracles do happen occasionally. Maybe his shoulder somehow weaved itself back together over the past few years and he has another few thousand pitches left in it.

[Graham's Cracker]

Maybe Johan said "I'll have what he's having"

[Rhettmatic]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/571452572680261634[/tweet]

So I'm probably wrong in a simple way -- feel free to be condescending when you tell me so! -- but the 2.5M figure struck me as a bit steep for a guy who can't pitch. I know that's contingent on his making the roster but won't he really have to show something at Spring Training?

Since it is contingent on Santana making the team by April 28, there is very little risk on the Jays end. If Johan bombs, then the team loses nothing. If by some miracle he actually stays healthy enough to contribute in the big league rotation, then $2.5M is a small enough price to take a chance on someone who AA apparently feels still has something left in the tank. Personally, I don't like Johan's chances, but I don't think anyone could have predicted guys like Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Scott Kazmir, etc, coming back from their injuries/age and contributing at a high level, either. It's worth a shot, especially since the depth chart after Norris/Estrada (assuming Sanchez is in the pen) starts with Liam Hendriks.

I worded my post poorly. I just meant that a $2.5M base salary was high enough that I couldn't see him making the team unless he was really impressive in Spring, given how apparently tight our budget is at the moment.

But I agree that there's no risk for the Jays in giving him a look.

[BigLeagueChew]

NEW YORK - Johan Santana continues to make slow progress toward getting back on the mound at the Blue Jays' Florida headquarters.

Santana is throwing off flat ground and is rehabbing his shoulder through the Velocity program of weighted balls that the Blue Jays training staff has embraced as a way to strengthen shoulder muscles. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner was signed to a minor-league contract in February and hopes to get back on a mound later this month.

"He's making some progress," manager John Gibbons said on Monday. "We've had a lot of guys who've had success with the weighted ball program and we hope it'll work for him."

Felix Doubront also is working on strengthening his pitching shoulder on the program. When he's ready, he'll join the starting rotation in triple-A Buffalo as organizational depth.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/07/weighted-ball-program-helps-rehabbing-blue-jays-pitcher-johan-santana

[satyr9]

NEW YORK - Johan Santana continues to make slow progress toward getting back on the mound at the Blue Jays' Florida headquarters.

Santana is throwing off flat ground and is rehabbing his shoulder through the Velocity program of weighted balls that the Blue Jays training staff has embraced as a way to strengthen shoulder muscles. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner was signed to a minor-league contract in February and hopes to get back on a mound later this month.

"He's making some progress," manager John Gibbons said on Monday. "We've had a lot of guys who've had success with the weighted ball program and we hope it'll work for him."

Felix Doubront also is working on strengthening his pitching shoulder on the program. When he's ready, he'll join the starting rotation in triple-A Buffalo as organizational depth.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/07/weighted-ball-program-helps-rehabbing-blue-jays-pitcher-johan-santana

Also FTFA:

Saunders originally had targeted opening day as his hoped-for return date. That was revised to the home opener next Monday in Toronto but now it has been delayed another week as he and the staff have been cautious in his rehab program.

So, knowing how that goes, the All-Star break is starting to sound just about right.

[Dan2087]

NEW YORK - Johan Santana continues to make slow progress toward getting back on the mound at the Blue Jays' Florida headquarters.

Santana is throwing off flat ground and is rehabbing his shoulder through the Velocity program of weighted balls that the Blue Jays training staff has embraced as a way to strengthen shoulder muscles. The 35-year-old former Cy Young winner was signed to a minor-league contract in February and hopes to get back on a mound later this month.

"He's making some progress," manager John Gibbons said on Monday. "We've had a lot of guys who've had success with the weighted ball program and we hope it'll work for him."

Felix Doubront also is working on strengthening his pitching shoulder on the program. When he's ready, he'll join the starting rotation in triple-A Buffalo as organizational depth.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/04/07/weighted-ball-program-helps-rehabbing-blue-jays-pitcher-johan-santana

Also FTFA:

Saunders originally had targeted opening day as his hoped-for return date. That was revised to the home opener next Monday in Toronto but now it has been delayed another week as he and the staff have been cautious in his rehab program.

So, knowing how that goes, the All-Star break is starting to sound just about right.

So he'll start rehab during all star break

[Parataxis]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/571452572680261634[/tweet]

So I'm probably wrong in a simple way -- feel free to be condescending when you tell me so! -- but the 2.5M figure struck me as a bit steep for a guy who can't pitch. I know that's contingent on his making the roster but won't he really have to show something at Spring Training?

Since it is contingent on Santana making the team by April 28, there is very little risk on the Jays end. If Johan bombs, then the team loses nothing. If by some miracle he actually stays healthy enough to contribute in the big league rotation, then $2.5M is a small enough price to take a chance on someone who AA apparently feels still has something left in the tank. Personally, I don't like Johan's chances, but I don't think anyone could have predicted guys like Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Scott Kazmir, etc, coming back from their injuries/age and contributing at a high level, either. It's worth a shot, especially since the depth chart after Norris/Estrada (assuming Sanchez is in the pen) starts with Liam Hendriks.

I worded my post poorly. I just meant that a $2.5M base salary was high enough that I couldn't see him making the team unless he was really impressive in Spring, given how apparently tight our budget is at the moment.

But I agree that there's no risk for the Jays in giving him a look.

Is the base an all or nothing thing, or is it (like NHL 2 way deals) pro-rated for time spent in the majors? ie if he is in the clubhouse for half the season, he'll get 1.25m?

[Ku-Bar]

Since it is contingent on Santana making the team by April 28, there is very little risk on the Jays end. If Johan bombs, then the team loses nothing. If by some miracle he actually stays healthy enough to contribute in the big league rotation, then $2.5M is a small enough price to take a chance on someone who AA apparently feels still has something left in the tank. Personally, I don't like Johan's chances, but I don't think anyone could have predicted guys like Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Scott Kazmir, etc, coming back from their injuries/age and contributing at a high level, either. It's worth a shot, especially since the depth chart after Norris/Estrada (assuming Sanchez is in the pen) starts with Liam Hendriks.

I worded my post poorly. I just meant that a $2.5M base salary was high enough that I couldn't see him making the team unless he was really impressive in Spring, given how apparently tight our budget is at the moment.

But I agree that there's no risk for the Jays in giving him a look.

Is the base an all or nothing thing, or is it (like NHL 2 way deals) pro-rated for time spent in the majors? ie if he is in the clubhouse for half the season, he'll get 1.25m?

Last I heard updates on contract status Santana was paid 100k to remain in the organization past spring training.

I think he still has to make the active roster before he earns more money. I know this doesn't answer your question exactly but it doesn't sound like Rogers would be willing to pay him any where near a million bucks to stay on the D/L or AAA for most of the year. Would be surprised if there isn't a termination option owned by the Blue Jays to protect them from winding up with egg on their face. After all, AA said they have nothing to lose whereas 1.25 or 2.50 million would obviously be better spent like for example on bench depth who are ready to go.

Probably at some point it will just make sense to call it off even if Santana (and his agent) are lobbying for more time, especially if the young arms surprise and perform.