Skipper sets expectations for Santana: Mets manager Terry Collins told ESPN.com that he hopes that SP Johan Santana will make 25 starts this season. Santana, who continues to recover from shoulder surgery that he had in Sept. 2010, threw off flat ground last week, and he told reporters that he was hoping to be able to throw off a mound at the beginning of spring training. (Updated 01/20/2012)
Injury Report
Shoulder - Questionable for start of spring training (Updated - 10/25/11)
Fantasy Analysis
While Santana has held out hope that he can be on the same schedule as the other Mets pitchers for spring training, Collins' conservative estimate of 25 starts indicates that the organization is still being cautious in their expectations for the lefty. Fantasy owners should bear in mind that Chien-Ming Wang, who underwent the same procedure, needed two years to make it back to the majors, so Santana could wind up providing far fewer than 25 starts. Because of the playing time risk, he is a late-round option in mixed leagues at best. (Updated 01/20/2012).
01/17/2012 04:51 2012 Fantasy outlooks: New York Mets
The Mets face a lot of question marks (Johan Santana and Jason Bay, to name a pair), but Fantasy owners can also look forward to up-and-coming talent taking big steps forward in 2012.
01/12/2012 17:49 Mets' Santana not sure he'll be ready for opening day
Sixteen months after shoulder surgery, Johan Santana hopes to be back on the mound for the New York Mets when the season starts. He just doesn't want to commit to it.
Remember that guy who had a four- or five-year run as the best starting pitcher in Fantasy, winning two Cy Young awards along the way? Yeah? Well, this isn't him. Oh, he has the same name and basic physical attributes, but if you expect Johan Santana to be anywhere close to the same pitcher, you're in for a startling dose of reality. The guy needed shoulder surgery in 2010, much like Jason Schmidt, Mark Prior, Ben Sheets and Brandon Webb needed at varying points in their careers. No, wait -- they all needed it at the same point: the end. Yes, some never made it back, and the ones who did didn't last long. Santana wouldn't be the first pitcher to buck the trend, of course, but most of the ones who have were in the beginning stages of their careers. They weren't 32-year-olds with multiple 200-inning seasons under their belts. For now, the Mets expect Santana to be ready for spring training, making him at least worth a late-round flier in mixed leagues. If you take a chance on him, though, be forewarned: People were doing the same thing with him a year ago. (Updated 1/11/12)
Actual 
AccuScore Projections) Note: Points are rounded down.
= probable start