PORT ST. LUCIE – The Orioles continued their late free-agent signing frenzy to try to keep up in the AL East by reaching agreement Tuesday with Johan Santana on a minor league contract.
Santana would be working on a $3 million contract if he reaches the majors, with a chance to earn an additional $5.05 million in bonuses. If not in the majors, he can opt out on May 30.
Santana will get the following amounts for hitting the following benchmarks: $250K for five games started, $350K for 10, $500K for 15, $750K for 20, $150K for 21 and 22, $200K for 23 and 24, and $400K for his 25th start. He also would receive $250K for 30 days on the active roster, $350K for 60 days, $500K for 90 days and $1M for 120 days.
As opposed to recent signings Ubaldo Jimenez and Nelson Cruz, Santana will not be available to the Orioles at the start of the season.
Santana, who turns 35 next week, has not pitched in the majors since Aug. 17, 2012. He had a second shoulder surgery last April, which kept him from pitching in 2013, the final season of his six-year, $137.5 million deal with the Mets.
Earlier this month, Santana worked out for seven teams, including the Yankees. But he topped out at 81 mph in that session, dimming the Yankees’ interest.
Baltimore, however, is willing to take the low-risk gamble of a minor league contract to see, as he puts distance between himself and that second surgery, whether Santana can recapture more of his fastball and previous Cy Young self.
Orioles GM Dan Duquette said Santana and Bret Saberhagen had similar shoulder surgeries performed by the same surgeon (David Altchek) and Saberhagen came back to pitch effectively.
Also, the Orioles believe they have a motivated athlete, in part because Santana (139 wins) wants to usurp Freddy Garcia (156 and on a minor league deal with the Braves) to have the most victories for any pitcher from Venezuela. Seattle’s Felix Hernandez has 110 wins and is likely to one day own that mark.