Johan Santana is officially a free agent.
The Mets declined Santana’s $25 million option for next season and will instead buy out the final year for $5.5 million. And while both sides have said the lefty could return to the team next season at a significantly lower price, his career in New York could very well be over.
After arriving in a trade from the Twins before the 2008 season, Santana went 46-34 with a 3.18 ERA. He won 16 games and tossed 234 1/3 innings in his first season in Queens, but was sidetracked by injuries that prevented him from reaching those numbers again.
He pitched the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 1, 2012 against the Cardinals, but many point to that 134-pitch outing as one of the reasons he was unable to stay healthy.
Santana missed the entire 2013 season following shoulder surgery.