Johan Santana Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Star Pitcher

Johan Santana hasn't pitched a major league game since 2012. But that didn't stop big league teams from scouting the 35-year-old's performance in the Venezuelan Winter League. On Feb. 26 he signed a minor-league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. 

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Santana Signs With Blue Jays

Thursday, Feb. 26

Santana will be pitching for the Blue Jays' organization in 2015, per Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News:

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Santana May Not Pitch for Big League Clubs

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that Santana's plans regarding big league clubs are very much in the air at this point:

On Jan. 20, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported six teams are interested in Santana:

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Santana Pushes Toward Comeback

Wednesday, Jan. 14 

Dan Martin of the New York Post has more on his attempted comeback:

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Johan Santana’s comeback began Tuesday night, pitching two scoreless innings in the Venezuelan Winter League, and the [New York] Yankees were among the teams in attendance.

It was the left-hander’s first game on a mound since he tore an Achilles tendon while pitching an extended spring training game last June with the [Baltimore] Orioles.

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Martin added, "The Yankees remain intrigued by the possibility of bringing in Santana and will 'keep an eye on him,' according to a source."

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has more on Santana's first start back in action:

Santana was one of baseball's best pitchers during his prime, winning the Cy Young Award in 2004 and 2006 and pitching 219 innings or more with over 200 strikeouts in five straight seasons from 2004-08. But age and injury have slowed him down, and he last appeared in the MLB in 2012, finishing 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 111 strikeouts.

Shoulder surgery in 2012 and then his torn Achilles in 2013, along with the natural decline many pitchers see as they age, have taken away much of Santana's natural ability. As with many pitchers at his age, he'll be relying far more on location and pitch selection than on power and velocity.

But for a team that could use some help on the back end of its rotation, he's an interesting option and likely will be given one more shot in the MLB. Whether he can remain healthy or not is another story entirely.