Johan Santana

The highlight of the Mets' season may have been Santana's no-hitter on June 1 - the first in franchise history - although it may have been the outing that prevented him from maintaining his early-season success over the course of the year. Prior to his no-hitter, Santana had a 60:16 K:BB and 2.75 ERA over his first 10 starts. After the 134-pitch outing, he finished the season with a 43:18 K:BB with an 8.27 ERA in 49 innings over his final 10 starts and opposing hitters delivered a .327/.377/.587 line against him. An ankle injury in July preceded lower back inflammation that eventually ended his season for good, but Santana is expected to be ready for the start of spring training and the Mets are optimistic he will be able to make a run at 30 starts in 2013.

Santana, who underwent surgery on September 14, 2010 to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder, basically missed the entire season. His return to action was pushed back several times with gaps between his two rehab starts at High-A St. Lucie due to shoulder soreness and fatigue. General manager Sandy Alderson announced in December that Santana may not be ready for Opening Day. The prospects of Santana's return to form in general have always been fraught with the uncertainty of history, given the difficulty in returning from this type of surgery, so monitor his progress closely leading into draft day.

For the second straight season, an injury cut short Santana's year, though this one is a lot more severe than the bone chips that sidelined him in 2009. Santana underwent surgery in September to repair a tear in the anterior capsule in his left shoulder and may be sidelined until June, perhaps even later. Santana was able to make a quicker than expected recovery and start Opening Day following the bone chip removal in 2009. Following a brilliant April, Santana was hit hard in May and June, possibly due to tipping pitches, but rebounded to pitch extremely well following a mechanical adjustment until he was shut down in September. While he is still a top-tier starter, he may no longer be elite as his HR/9IP spiked while his K/9IP and K/BB marks dropped for the third straight year, coinciding with another drop in his velocity.

Santana entered spring training last year coming off arthroscopic surgery on his left knee the previous Oct. 1. While the knee was fine, he then had tenderness in his left elbow sidelining him a few weeks. Santana made a faster than expected recovery and started Opening Day, but that elbow issue would come back later to haunt him and the Mets. Santana was brilliant his first seven starts of the year but struggled his next six, which is when the questions as to the drop in his velocity began. He rebounded to have a solid July but he started to slide in August and was finally shut down due to bone chips in his elbow, which were removed September 1. The Mets knew Santana had been pitching with the bone chips for as long as the past year. But he didn't require surgery until one of those chips became lodged in the joint and seriously affected the range of motion in the elbow. Santana, who had the same surgery in 2003, had a big 2004 following the operation, a scenario the Mets hope repeats itself this time.

Santana came over to the Mets in a big trade with the Twins in January 2008, and for the most part, was everything the Mets were expecting. He finished the year with a 2.53 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 16 wins and should have at least five more, as the bullpen blew several late leads for him. However, on the downside, his strikeout rate dipped from 9.66 K/9IP in 2007 to 7.91 in 2008 and his walk rate also went up for the third season (2.42 BB/9IP). That said, he went 9-0 allowing just 28 runs in 118 innings over his last 16 starts, showing his dominance. Santana, who should be 100 percent for spring training after undergoing arthroscopic left knee surgery on Oct. 1, also seemed to grow into the role of team leader. Look for another top quality season from him in 2009, as he'll again be one of the first pitchers off the board on draft day.

Santana is still the top pitcher in baseball despite a "down" year in which he only won 15 games with a 3.33 ERA. Santana was poised to win his third Cy Young in July after a strong first half (2.75 ERA and 10 wins), but uncharacteristically faded in September with a 4.94 ERA. Santana's change-up may be the most dominant pitch in the game, and he continued to show outstanding control (235:52 K:BB ratio). He failed to lead the AL in strikeouts (just four Ks behind Scott Kazmir) for the first time in four seasons, but his high strikeout totals boost his fantasy value in most leagues. After being traded to the Mets this offseason, Santana's value should increase as his strikeout totals will get a boost from facing opposing pitchers instead of the DH. His home park will also have slight benefit to his stats. He's still in his prime at age 29 and should be the top pitcher taken in any fantasy league.

Santana won his second AL Cy Young award in three seasons by leading all of baseball in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He was just the 11th pitcher to accomplish the feat. Santana's change-up may be the most dominant pitch in the game and he continued to show outstanding control. His only blemish was losing at home in his only playoff start, although he still pitched well (2 ER in 8 IP). At just age 28, Santana is still in his prime and should be the first pitcher taken in almost any fantasy draft.

Santana was arguably the best pitcher in baseball last season, but was robbed of a second consecutive Cy Young award because his win total was too low for old-school voters who didn't notice his lack of run support. Santana led the AL in strikeouts, was first in batting average against and was second in ERA by a hair (2.87 to 2.86 for Kevin Millwood). Santana's change-up may be the most dominant pitch in the game and he continued to show outstanding control with a 238/45 K/BB ratio. At just age 27, Santana is still in his prime and should be the first pitcher taken in almost any fantasy draft.

Santana put together one of the most dominant second halves to a season in baseball history (13-0 with a 1.21 ERA after the All Star break) en route to winning the AL CY Young award. Santana started slowly with a 5.61 ERA through May and then caught fire. In just his first full season as a starter, Santana again showed outstanding command (265/54 K/BB ratio) while leading the AL in strikeouts. He also ended any concerns about his durability with a strong September and allowing just one run in two playoff starts. While he may not repeat his Cy Young numbers, there's every reason to think he'll be one of the contenders again.

Santana should finally emerge as one of the best starters in the American League next season with a full year in the rotation after spending part of the last two seasons in the bullpen. Santana was bypassed in the rotation last spring by the late signing of Kenny Rogers. A midseason injury to Joe Mays moved him to the rotation in July and sparked Minnesota's strong second half. Santana's deceptive change up has helped him improve his strikeout-to-walk rate the last three seasons and by averaging over a strikeout per inning, we think he could win 15+ games with an ERA near 3.00. The only worry is his durability after being sidelined once late in the season and again in the playoffs with hamstring cramping. He may face similar problems in his first full season as a starter.

Santana continued to improve in 2002 but has no set role with the Twins as he enters the spring. Santana was used in both relief and as a starter and impressed in both roles. Will compete with Kyle Lohse for the fifth starter role, but the Twins may want to keep another left-hander in the bullpen. Growing strikeout numbers bode well for future success. The only worry: he had an 8.53 ERA in the postseason, which included serving up a dramatic home run to Adam Kennedy that ended Minnesota's playoff run. Hopefully that performance won't be hanging over him next spring.