Mets deny Santana permission to pitch in WBC

The New York Mets will not allow left-hander Johan Santana to pitch in the World Baseball Classic.

General manager Sandy Alderson told reporters Monday that the team denied Santana permission to pitch in the tournament because he finished last season on the disabled list.

Santana would have pitched for Venezuela. He pitched off a mound Sunday for the first time since the team shut him down in August because of back and ankle issues. He struggled after his June 1 no-hitter and finished 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in coming back from shoulder surgery.

Santana, who has $31 million left on his contract, will turn 34 next month.

He pitched for Venezuela in the 2006 WBC but missed the 2009 tournament because of a knee injury.