(AP)

Back in 2010 when he tore an anterior capsule in his left shoulder, Johan Santana probably wasn't sure if he would ever be the same Cy Young Award-caliber kind of pitcher again. After surgery and more than a year of rehab, he made it back to the majors in 2012 and, while his overall results weren't great, he did pitch the first no-hitter in New York Mets history in June. He called it the greatest feeling he ever had.

[Also: Tigers ace Justin Verlander signs record five-year extension]

At 34 years old, Santana now has to ask himself: Does he have the will to make another comeback from the same injury?

Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Thursday that an MRI on Santana's ailing left shoulder revealed a "probable" re-tear of his shoulder capsule. If he has surgery, Santana would miss at least a year. The Mets owe Santana $25 million this season and $25 million more in 2014, but have the luxury of a buyout clause that would save them $19.5 million if they so choose. The Mets did not insure Santana's $137.5 million contract, signed back in 2008, to save money on expensive premiums — a route many major league teams have taken in recent years.

(Big League Stew)

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Mark DeRosa won't ask why. All he knows is, after a complete rupture and two surgeries, his chronically injured left wrist feels good for the first time in nearly four years. At age 38, DeRosa is striking the ball well again, and his health has allowed him one more chance to be relevant to a Major League Baseball team.

And the Toronto Blue Jays need someone, too. Manager John Gibbons has named DeRosa part of a starting platoon with Maicer Izturis at third base while slugger Brett Lawrie heals from an injury. DeRosa, who thought he might have played his last game, says he is humbled by the opportunity. He's batting .475/.511/.725 with four doubles and two homers — against decent competition — in Grapefruit League play.

[AL East Preview: How good are the Blue Jays?]

"Yeah, these last few years, they’ve been terrible," DeRosa said. "Knock on wood, so far this spring it’s been a resurgence, how I feel. The results have been great. It’s not even so much the results but being able to drive the ball a lot better than I have the last three years. I honestly don’t know the reasons why. I know I didn’t pick up a bat, but maybe two or three times after I signed, just to hit off the tee and not make a fool of myself the first day.

"I don’t know if it’s miraculous, but I don’t know why it feels the way it feels and I’m not searching for the reason."

His feelings are understandable. DeRosa probably has done enough searching the past few years.

(USA Today)DUNEDIN, Fla. — A year ago, left-hander Ricky Romero was preparing for his second consecutive opening-day start for the Toronto Blue Jays. Before him, only legends Roy Halladay, Jack Morris, Jimmy Key and Dave Stieb had started consecutive openers for the Jays. The honour seemed justified for Romero, who made the AL All-Star team in 2011 and earned a $30 million contract extension.

On Tuesday, after getting mixed results from Romero in his fifth spring outing of the season, the Blue Jays announced they were optioning him to Class A Dunedin. Romero seemed to have no idea what was coming when he spoke with reporters (who didn't, either) Tuesday afternoon.

"I’m just focused on positives right now. I did some great things out there," Romero said after allowing three earned runs — two earned — and six hits with three walks over 4 1/3 innings against the Pirates.

He talked about staying behind to get in one more start over the weekend while the rest of the Jays moved north to finish the exhibition season at wintry Philadelphia. It had been assumed that, barring a complete breakdown, he would rejoin the team in Toronto for opening day next week.

Not so fast.

Later in the day, GM Alex Anthopoulos announced that Romero would be staying in Dunedin longer than the weekend. J.A. Happ, another lefty, had won the fifth starter's job.

A demotion from the majors to Class A sounds harsh, even cruel, but the Jays are doing it this way for practical reasons. Via MLB.com:

(AP)

SARASOTA, Fla. — The last week of spring training is always the worst, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Monday. You're just trying to get through it so you can start the regular season.

And then something like this happens to Wilson Betemit.

Betemit tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee as he ran the bases in a Grapefruit League game Monday. He lay in the dirt near second base in the fifth inning after collapsing in a heap, first writhing in obvious pain and then being alarmingly still for moments at a time. Betemit eventually was lifted to his feet and carried to a cart by trainer Richie Bancells and coach Wayne Kirby as Showalter hovered with concern. Later, Betemit's knee was put in a full brace to keep it still.

[Also: Triple-A team adds urine-powered video gaming to its stadium]

The Orioles say an MRI revealed a grade 2-3 tear, which means Betemit is straddling the line between trying rehab and needing reconstructive surgery.

UPDATE: The injury will not require surgery. Betemit will be out 6-8 weeks. His ACL is fully intact. Here's what he told reporters Tuesday morning:

(Getty)

That is to say, right-hander Chris Tillman gets a look on his face like that of Norman Bates — not that he actually resembles actor Anthony Perkins. This is what Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said in describing Tillman, who is pictured above (on the left).

Judging by the photo, it does seem like Tillman has had enough of everyone and everything. And yet, he's described as "easygoing" and "mild-mannered" by MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli, the story's author. So what's with the eyes, Bette Davis?

"He's got a look on his face sometimes, it's a little Norman Bates here and there," manager Buck Showalter said, referring to the fictional murderer in Alfred Hitchcock's classic thriller. "Norman Bates is probably a little too strong. You know [Tillman is] listening to you, but he's pissed off about something."

Another amusing quote comes from minor league pitching coach Mike Griffin, who said Tillman's attitude has changed "360" degrees. Whenever people say 360, they mean 180, because 360 would be right back when you started. But Tillman's maturing attitude is shaping his improving results.

[Watch: Fan leaps out of stands to make great grab of foul ball]

(AP)The dream has become reality: With the signing of right-hander Jon Garland on Sunday, the Colorado Rockies have created an entire starting rotation of pitchers whose first name starts with the letter "J."

Jhoulys Chacin, Jeff Francis, Jorge De La Rosa and Juan Nicasio preceded Garland, who was cut by the Seattle Mariners on Saturday after they told him he would not make the team out of spring training. He posted a 2.25 ERA in four Cactus League starts for the M's.

The key to Garland's success is his sinking fastball. Thomas Harding of MLB.com writes that the Rockies were looking at Garland before Seattle signed him:

The Rockies eyed Garland because of his career 1.31 groundball-to-flyball rate. Rockies scouts had Garland's rate this spring at around 1.7.

That's good, right? Anything to keep a World Series champ from the 2005 Chicago White Sox in the league. If someone out there needs a third baseman, Joe Crede is available.

But the Rockies just want someone to give them dependable innings. And whose first name starts with the same letter as their other starters. Sorry, Drew Pomeranz.

Several major league teams have three starters whose names start with the same letter, and a few even have three that start with a "J." But no rotations are complete like Colorado's. Garland makes them whole.

(USA Today, @Dhuddy41 on Twitter)

Imagine that you're right-hander Daniel Hudson of the Arizona Diamondbacks, in the midst of rehabbing from Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, and you take a break. You head over to the drug store where you find a pack of Topps baseball cards, buy them and open them — just like when you were a kid. Except now you're a major leaguer, and there's your card! A head shot. And ... the pained expression on your face looks all too familiar. You remember what day this is from: June 26, the day you tore the UCL in your right elbow. No wonder you look like you want to throw up:

(AP)

The chances continue to increase that Derek Jeter will open the season on the disabled list because his surgically repaired left ankle isn't ready. New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Newsday that Jeter is "sore" and won't have any baseball activity Sunday.

Jeter has not played for the major league team in a week, and he has only 11 at-bats this spring, because of stiffness in his ankle. It was fractured during Game 1 of the ALCS a season ago.

Jeter got a cortisone shot Wednesday and went 0-for-4 in a minor league game Saturday, grounding out four times, but he hoped to play again Sunday. The Yankees are playing him with minor leaguers to give themselves flexibility on Jeter's roster spot at the beginning of the season. If his ankle were to shown sudden improvement, they wouldn't want to stash him on the DL any longer than they had to. But that plan seems optimistic. The regular season starts a week from Monday and Jeter seems to be a long way from ready.

He's not the only Yankees player who is hurting. Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson will start the season on the DL.

April and May are going to be challenging for manager Joe Girardi.