MIAMI — Johan Santana could be one throwing session away from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment.
The Mets ace will take the mound for a bullpen session this morning at Sun Life Stadium and might be cleared by tomorrow to pitch a minor-league game later in the week. He likely would pitch for Single-A St. Lucie.
Santana, recovering from surgery last Sept. 14 to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder, was in the Mets’ clubhouse yesterday and repeated what he told The Post on Thursday: He hopes to pitch for the Mets this season, but isn’t going to risk his future just for the sake of returning in 2011.
“I worry about being healthy, that’s what I worry about,” Santana said before the Mets’ 8-5 loss to the Marlins last night. “If [a return this year] doesn’t happen, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world.”
Santana threw a simulated game on Friday in Port St. Lucie, and it will be determined after today’s throwing session if he needs to go that route again or would benefit from taking part in a minor league game.
“After [today], I hope that if everything goes right, I will get an opportunity to pitch in a minor league game,” Santana said.
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Jason Bay returned to the lineup after missing two games with a sore right hamstring. Bay was slotted seventh in the batting order for the first time this year and could stay in that spot until Carlos Beltran is traded.
Bay went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and two fly outs to right.
“I’m trying to juggle the order a little bit so the left-handed relievers on the other team can’t exploit our lineup,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “If I end up moving Jason, then in a certain situation now I’ve got three or four lefties in a row. A lot of times that’s an easy inning for those left-handed relievers.
“But when [Bay] starts swinging the bat, obviously we’ve got to get him in the mix. When he does what he did in Los Angeles [two homers in one game], I’ve got to move him up in the batting order.”
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Collins is toying with the idea of giving Jose Reyes a day off today, just to give the shortstop a breather after having played five games since returning from the disabled list on Tuesday. If Reyes — who contributed three hits and three runs scored last night — sits, Justin Turner would play shortstop and Willie Harris could get the start at second base.