PORT ST. LUCIE — Johan Santana is the guy not here. He is the phantom Met.
His teammates go one way to get ready for the 2011 season and Santana goes the other way to get ready for, well, that is an interesting matter.
Deeds reveal more than words; and there are a lot of deeds that are pointing toward Sandy Alderson’s new administration prioritizing 2012 at least as much as 2011 — despite public talk of being strong contenders this season.
Ruben Tejada, for example, was never made part of an underwhelming second base competition, and instead is earmarked for shortstop at Triple-A, and it is not coincidence that it corresponds with Jose Reyes’ walk year. Jenrry Mejia was not involved in the rotation or bullpen battles and, instead, 2011 is about stretching him out as a starter as Tejada’s Buffalo teammate.
Part of this is simply the logical choices by a well-thought-out front office. But it also shows none of the only-the-present-matters fervor of Omar Minaya’s waning days, although Mets ownership desperately needs a strong start and contention in 2011 for so many financial reasons.
Instead, Santana is moving like a pitching tortoise. His big spring accomplishment has been graduating his throwing program from 40 to 60 feet and finally being allowed to play catch on consecutive days. Santana does not expect to even throw off a mound until May. The optimistic projections have him coming back in late June or early July.
But it is clear there is none of the urgency to get Santana active like there was in recent years to, say, get Reyes or Carlos Beltran back from injuries.
If he returns in July, great. But every time I ask about Santana, I hear as much about 2012 and beyond as 2011. As pitching coach Dan Warthen said, “If we get 15 starts, we would be lucky. Twelve would be good. It is all a very tough call. I think we will see Johan this year. But the key is a really healthy Johan, especially for 2012.”
That makes sense. The Mets are not surrendering 2011, maybe the moons align properly and they are contending in September. But Santana is owed $54.5 million for 2012 and 2013 (assuming his 2014 option is not picked up). So this isn’t like Beltran, whom the Mets need playing in the final year of his contract to get something out of him on the field or in trade.
Unless an unforeseen trade comes along, Santana is an expensive piece of the Mets’ puzzle going forward. And Alderson’s job completing that puzzle becomes less complicated if he doesn’t have to find an ace because Santana is healthy and terrific in 2012 and 2013.
“There is absolutely no question that I will not risk getting this guy hurt and losing him for the future,” manager Terry Collins said. “It would be unfair to the organization and unfair to him.”
Of course simply getting on a mound will not assure that Santana is an ace. He has been a Met for three seasons and each year ended with a surgery — left knee, left elbow, left shoulder. It is the kind of laundry list — calf, shoulder, hamstring — that ultimately robbed the Mets of their previous ace, Pedro Martinez.
Yet Martinez’s last two springs with the Mets were filled with rehabilitation optimism that made you believe he would come back effectively. He was full of charisma and ebullience, dancing around with joy about how he felt. You could forget all the dents, all the miles on the arm. His excitement made seeing magic coming again from his arm more imaginable. But, of course, that never happened.
Santana is not dancing, but he has an aura about him, too. He pitched hurt last year, after all, and produced a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts.
“I was told by the doctors that the surgery was a success and there is no problems and I can return [as his old self],” Santana said. “But I have to be patient. As much as I am competitive, I am not going to do anything stupid to jeopardize this season and my career.”
So he continues, instead, as the phantom Met. Here, but not really. In the weight room when other Mets are out on the field. Playing catch when others are firing from mounds in games. Ready to be left behind in this small Florida town when the others leave for the regular season.
“I am doing everything right,” Santana said. “I will not rush. I want to be as much of a long-term help that I can be.”
joel.sherman@nypost.com