We haven’t heard much about Ervin Santana since his minor league deal with the Mets was up at the end of last season, though the 15-year veteran recently threw for the Phillies, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link). It isn’t known whether or not Philadelphia has continued interest in Santana in the wake of this workout, though adding an experienced hurler on a minors contract wouldn’t be a bad idea for a team with some question marks at the back of the rotation.
Though the Phils have a number of arms already vying for the fifth starter job, none of the current candidates have Santana’s track record. It was only back in 2017 that Santana posted one of the finest years of his career, tossing 211 1/3 innings of 3.28 ERA ball for the Twins and finishing seventh in AL Cy Young Award voting. That season capped off a five-year stretch for Santana that saw him average 182 innings and a 3.52 ERA per year with Kansas City, Atlanta, and Minnesota from 2013-17.
Since then, however, Santana has thrown only 38 innings total over the last two seasons. Finger surgery kept Santana sidelined for almost all of the 2018 campaign, and he posted a 9.45 ERA over only 13 1/3 innings for the White Sox last season before being released. The results weren’t much better for Santana in the Mets’ farm system, as he managed just a 5.31 ERA over 95 total innings at the Triple-A and high-A ball levels.
Santana turned 37 in December, so his decline could be simply chalked up to age and wear and tear after the accumulation of 2421 1/3 Major League innings. He does want to continue his career, Heyman notes, and Santana is also hoping to pitch for his native Dominican Republic if the D.R. national team qualifies for the Olympics.
i like this idea. do it now though so he might be ready for opening day
Yep the guy with 6 ERA in AAA is gonna kill it in the majors this year
Something makes me think he’ll catch on somewhere and have a few really good weeks. Regardless, I bet he has a better year than Jordan Zimmerman or Matt Harvey.
What are you lookin at, BUTTHEAD?
He’s had a great career. Here’s hoping Ervin’s got something left in the tank so he finish on a high note.
Seems like a longshot, but Phillies need arms; starters and relievers.
Stick a fork in him.
GET HIM A BODY BAG!!!!! YEAH!!!!!!
what, this is your day for movie quotes?
Can you make a shoe smell?
It is always a day for movie quotes for dynamite drop.
this^^^
I too am looking at Ervin Santana. There’s a picture of him right there.
Depth, depth and more depth.
Right now, Maddox, Cone and Pedro are looking at who’s being “looked at” by some teams, and thinking, ‘Ya know, with all this upper-cutting, launch angle garbage, swing and miss, and nobody stealing bases or bunting, I’m probably good for 11-5, 3.50 ERA….and a 15M a year contract”.
It’s Maddux
Maybe he’s talking about Gary Maddox
Lester
2/3 of the earth is covered by water. The rest by Gary Maddox – variously attributed
Its Garry Maddux lol (btw I was thinking the same thing after my earlier post.)
No. It’s Maddox.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maddoga01.shtml
As my momma says, “ looking is free “…
Philly needs Erving, not Ervin.
I think arrieta has the 5th spot locked down
Arrieta has the third spot. But who has the 4th and 5th?
3/4 with Eflin taking up the other spot. but i agree, no way there are 4 SP better then him on the roster right now.
I’m all for it, even if his impact is minimal.
MLB rotation:
1. A. Nola
2. Z. Wheeler
3. J. Arrieta
4. Z. Eflin
5. N. Pivetta
AAA rotation:
1. E. De los Santos
2. C. Irvin
3. S. Howard
4. R. Rosso
5. E. Santana/M. Llovera
Closers:
MLB: V. Velasquez AAA: J. Hammer
im not for anything that includes Pivetta on the roster, especially as a SP
That’s not good.
Bloom should be looking at Santana too. Some depth would not hurt right now.
Bloom should be signing either Danny Salazar or Aaron Sanchez depending on their health.
Sanchez is out until June/July. Salazar has pitched 4IP over the last two seasons and is probably done as a starter.
Bloom should be looking at Jim Lonborg too. He can’t be making THAT much money drilling teeth.
Sonny Siebert
Babe Ruth
Rick Wise. He’s on over 5 thousand days rest
Especially at 77…
This guy will do great in Citizen’s Bank Ballpark. Do it Phillies.
The title of this article assured me the Phillies will not be making the playoffs this year.
Times are tough when. Washed up fly ball pitcher in Philly? Nope.
Josh Johnson is available. I think Smoltz would pitch a few games. Schilling definitely needs money. Tug is dead but I think his son Tim can pitch based on association.
Bartola Colon would say Santana is real young.
Somewhere Andrew Cashner is screaming “HEY!! I ACTUALLY PITCHED LAST YEAR!!!”
And somewhere the Red Sox are yelling back “YEAH, REALLY, REALLY, BADLY!!!!”
this is one of those moves that I think can’t go wrong you bring them in on a cheap contract and if it works out great you bring them up if it doesn’t you didn’t spend much money in the first place it to me it’s a no-lose situation
The Phils may take a chance. They’re due to have one of these work
Pedro Martinez worked out, so who knows The Phils need to watch their budget
If they lose the copyright suit for rights to the Phanatic. If they lose it, it will cost them millions of $$$$$$$$$