Ervin Santana signs Minors deal with Mets
NEW YORK -- The Mets’ stockpiling of veteran depth continued this week not only in the outfield, but also the rotation. New York signed Ervin Santana to a Minor League deal, the team announced, with plans to evaluate him in Port St. Lucie, Fla., before sending him to Triple-A Syracuse.
Santana, 36, signed a Minor League contract with the White Sox in February and made the club out of Spring Training, but was designated for assignment after posting a 9.45 ERA with six home runs over his first three starts. After clearing waivers, he elected free agency.
“We all know what Ervin Santana has done in his career,” said Mets manager Mickey Callaway, who opposed Santana in the American League Central in 2013, and from 2015-17. “Great clubhouse guy. I know him pretty well. He’s had a ton of success at the Major League level. Having said that, we’ve got to evaluate where he’s at.”
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Although the Mets’ starting five will become whole again when Jason Vargas returns from the injured list on Saturday, the team still has little proven depth behind that group. The Mets acquired Wilmer Font from the Rays earlier this month, but Font has recorded a 7.84 ERA over his first three starts with New York. Chris Flexen also struggled in a spot start earlier this season, while Walker Lockett has yet to pitch due to injury and Hector Santiago, another veteran signing, is currently with the big league club in a relief role.
Santana has pitched in the Majors just eight times since the beginning of last season, due to recurring issues from February 2018 surgery on his right middle finger. However, the veteran right-hander was a dependable rotation option for the Twins in 2016-17, recording a 3.32 ERA over 63 starts in that span.
Santana began his career with the Angels in 2005 and has spent time with the Royals and Braves, registering a lifetime 149-127 record with a 4.09 ERA in 15 big league seasons.
“It’s just another depth piece for us, and one that has some upside to it,” Callaway said. “When he gets rolling, he can be a pretty good pitcher.”