Twins land Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana

The Twins finally made a splash at this year’s winter meeting, signing free agent pitcher Ervin Santana.

Reports say the deal is for four years and $55 million, comparable to the deals signed by Brandon McCarthy (four-year, $48 million with the Dodgers) and Francisco Liriano (three-year, $39 million with the Pirates) on the second tier of free agent pitchers signed this offseason. The deal includes a $14 million vesting option for a fifth year or a $1 million buyout

Last season in Atlanta, Santana went 14-10 in with a 3.95 ERA in 196 innings pitched. It was his first winning record since going 17-10 with the Angels in 2010.

Santana, 31, has proven capable of staying healthy, making no fewer than 23 starts in a season since breaking into the majors in 2005 at the age of 22. He’s pitched more than 200 innings in a season five times.

The addition of Santana bolsters a Twins rotation that currently lists Phil Hughes as the staff ace. 

Author(s)