Mets: Santana not in pitching shape
New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson informed CBS Sports via text message Saturday that the problem with left-handed ace Johan Santana is that he reported to training camp not in shape to pitch.
Santana wanted to pitch for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, but the team denied him permission because he was not ready to pitch.
"(The) arm seems to be fine, (he) just was not in pitching shape when he arrived," Alderson wrote in a text.
Santana ended last season on the disabled list as he struggled after throwing a no-hitter on June 1. He had ankle and back soreness last year as he came back from shoulder surgery.
He was expected to be ready coming into training camp in February but was shut down two weeks ago after two bullpen sessions.
Santana is throwing long toss and is expected to throw to live batters on Tuesday.
"He tried to rest physically and mentally (this winter) and use spring training to get in shape," Santana's agent Peter Greenberg told CBS Sports by phone. "The goal was to be ready Opening Day or as close as possible. Mentally, as much as physically, he was burned out. He decided he needed a full break."
The Mets say Santana has left shoulder fatigue and is trying to build his arm strength back.
