VIERA, Fla. —- Johan Santana’s Mets career is likely finished, after an MRI exam on his left shoulder revealed the pitcher has a probable re-tear of the anterior capsule in his left shoulder, general manager Sandy Alderson said Thursday.
The lefty will decide over the weekend on his next step, but Alderson said a second surgery is a strong possibility.
“If this diagnosis proves to be correct, I think in all likelihood Johan will be lost to the Mets for the season,” Alderson said.
Santana, who is in the final year of a $137.5 million contract, had experienced weakness in the shoulder during spring training, leading the Mets to last week say he would not begin the season with the team. The lefty flew to New York on Wednesday for an examination by Dr. David Altchek, who diagnosed the probable re-tear. That diagnosis was confirmed Thursday by Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Lewis Yocum, after a review of Santana’s MRI.
Alderson said it’s unknown when the probable re-tear occurred. Santana was shut down in August last season, officially because of stiffness in his lower back, and spent the winter resting.
“What we do know is at some point symptoms appeared and they worsened instead of improved,” Alderson said. “At this point we simply don’t know when this occurred.”