Mets officially decline Santana's option

The Mets have officially declined Johan Santana's $25 million option for the 2014 season. The veteran will instead give Santana a $5.5 million buyout. 

Santana was originally acquired by the Mets via trade from the Twins in February 2008. He went on to sign a 6 year, $137.5 million contract extension to stay in Queens, and had trouble staying healthy. In 109 career starts with the Mets, he had a 3.18 ERA and a 46-34 record. The Mets were expected to give him a buyout this winter.

Santana issued the following statement after this move was announced " I want to thank the Mets organization, my teammates and of course a big thank you to the Mets fans, who have been behind me from day one and stood by me through all the good and bad. I am not sure what the future holds, as this is all new to me, but I have every intention of pitching in 2014 and beyond and I am certainly keeping all my options open. BELIEVE IT." 

According to Andy Martino of of the Daily News, the Mets won't rule out bringing Santana back, but they would have relatively low expectations for him, similar to the expectations they had when they brought in Shaun Marcum and Chris Young.

Santana was clearly a bust for the Mets during his 6 year tenure, simply because he couldn't stay on the field. Realistically speaking, he only gave New York three good seasons out of those 6 years (2008-2010,) and the 2012 season (despite the no-hitter) was a flop as well. 

Santana for the most part was solid when healthy, but a torn shoulder capsule injury kept him out for part of the 2011 season, and all of 2012. It is assumed the recovery itself affected Santana in 2012, as he went on to post a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts. His most recent shoulder surgery kept him out for the entire 2013 season. 

I am not sure whether the Mets plan on bringing him back, either as a starter or reliever. However, I personally think he would be a decent low risk pickup. He has shown that he can handle the New York media, and the spotlight that playing in Queens can give a player. He also obviously has a history of success, and the Mets could ease him back by sticking him in the bullpen to lighten the workload. It's something to be considered by both sides, but I would imagine a bunch of teams will be contacting Santana about a possible contract.