Email a copy of 'Orioles Sign Johan Santana' to a friend
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By Steve Adams | at
Email a copy of 'Orioles Sign Johan Santana' to a friend
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Tom 20
Orioles add another Rule 5 draft pick! Oh, wait…
Bleed_Orange
This is a ‘catching lightning’ signing. His invite to spring training must only be for veteran leadership and to work with the young guys. Hopefully there isn’t an opt out clause in the contract and he can stay in Sarasota until July and get healthy.
Damon Bowman
Reports state there is there’s a May 30 opt-out date.
Addias
This is a good get. Very Red Sox-like.
UltimateYankeeFan
A little surprised that the Orioles didn’t include a team option for 2015 (like the Yankees did with Andrew Bailey) in case Santana does come back sometime this season and pitches decently.
In any case it’s an almost no risk, potential decent reward for very little money by MLB standards.
Trock
Good call on that one. I was surprised on that as well.
Trock
Good call on that one. I was surprised on that as well.
Damon Bowman
I think O’s management took it more as a one-shot roll of the dice. Since the incentives can boost Santana’s salary from a $3 million base to just over $8 million if he hits targets for starts and Santana accepted that, it tells me he wants to prove to everyone that he’s “back” and might not have accepted an option that limited him to playing in Baltimore for ’15.
Tyler Young 2
3 million dollars though …
Stephen J. Puopolo
I was gonna say they really overpaid for him. Granted it’s a low risk move cause it is a minor league deal but at the same time, why not wait to see if there is someone that can take over the 5th spot of the rotation without any issue? Hopefully he ends up being more than serviceable and provides a more solid rotation.
JohnnyHamer
As a realist and an O’s fan I am happy and a little excited about this move but I am not expecting much.
BradyAnderson
yeah I am fine with the signing and potential price, other than the intent for him being a reliever. 3mil for a finesse lefty reliever, when we already have three in britton, matusz, and patton….not including AAA depth
What the ?
I can’t imagine he will make it through the Baltimore gauntlet, er I mean physical.
OrangeCards
I can’t imagine someone being dull enough to make this lame, tired joke AFTER Johan passed the physical and the deal is officially announced by the team, but it happened.
snowbladerp14
it funny how the phillies failed 2 guys this year and get no heat but its probably because they havent done anything outside burnett
ps2014
Not only is this brilliantly executed, but it’s also original. Pat yourself on the back, friend. You’ve earned it.
disadvantage 2
I don’t get it…
BradyAnderson
theres no way we view him as a reliever at a potential 5mil.
blob
$5 mil is probably the average free agent salary for a reliever. didnt run the numbers, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
Damon Bowman
Everything I’ve read is that the majority of incentives are tied to Santana starting. If he comes out of the pen, he doesn’t rack up a lot of extra bucks.
Dynasty22
So he can possibly make 5 million to be a reliever? I wonder if they may use him as a closer.
Dynasty22
So he can possibly make 5 million to be a reliever? I wonder if they may use him as a closer.
mehs
Very hard to make a games started incentive as a reliever.
Dynasty22
My comment was before this article was updated.
mehs
My apologies.
goorru
He’s done, I have a better chance of making twenty starts this year.
kungfucampby
So is Johan Santana healthier than Grant Balfour according to the Baltimore’s doctors?
rlball6 .
No. We didn’t want to give Balfour two full years. Santana is just getting a minor league deal.
Damon Bowman
So comparing a starter who is known to be rehabbing from injury to a closer who may or may not have problems down the road makes sense to you?
slashieboy .
He is brave trying to come back in the AL East.
slashieboy .
He is brave trying to come back in the AL East.
mikefichera
low risk low reward.
snowbladerp14
how is it a low reward
mikefichera
Cause i’ve just watched him pitch for the last 2 years with that injured shoulder and if the reports are that his velocity is topping out at 81, he will barely able to contribute at all (assuming he doesn’t reinjure his anterior capsule) and if he does contribute at best he’ll be a No 5/long man/loogy. So, low risk, low reward.
Now, I know players strengthen over time. But before his second anterior capsule surgery Johan Santana was topping out at 88-89. After this second surgery can you reasonably believe he’ll be able to reach that?
The only saving grace is that Johan still does have an amazing change up…but if they are sitting on an 85mph fast ball….they’ll get lucky eventually.
orangeoctober
not a bad move really since they arent expecting anything other than maybe a lefty reliever halfway through the year. and since its a minor league deal if he doesnt pan out, who cares you lost nothing. maybe they hope he’ll mentor eduardo rodriguez a little. a few years ago the Orioles would’ve made this move with hopes that he’d start 20 games this year lol
Rabbitov
Honestly, I think its a great move
snowbladerp14
its a little more money that I originally thought but hey its not my money
orangeoctober
basically how i feel
Huff's dog
Overpay. If it was a straight-up minor league deal, that is one thing. However he didn’t pitch at all last season and pitched rather poorly in 2012.
blob
so basically they got what should be a pretty decent assistant pitching coach for their young arms for the duration of the month.
Mario Saavedra
Johan Santana, Nelson Cruz, Ubaldo Jimenez. The Orioles are ready to win the 2010 World series.
blob
not if “can’t hack it” chris davis has anything to say about it.