The Baltimore Orioles signed free agent left-handed pitcher Johan Santana to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, the team announced Tuesday.
The 34-year-old Santana became a free agent after completing a $137.5 million, six-year contract with the New York Mets, who declined a $25 million option and paid a $5.5 million buyout.
Santana is a two-time Cy Young Award winner (2004 and 2006), a four-time All-Star (2005-07 and 2009) and a Gold Glove winner (2007).
Santana missed the 2011 season following shoulder surgery on Sept. 14, 2010, returned to pitch the Mets’ first no-hitter on June 1, 2012, then missed last season after an operation on April 2 to repair a re-tear of the anterior capsule muscle in his left shoulder.
Santana is 139-78 with a 3.20 ERA in 360 career games (284 starts) with the Minnesota Twins and Mets since making his debut in 2000.
In a seven-season span from 2004-2010, he made at least 25 starts and posted an ERA of 3.33 or lower in each season, including five seasons with 29 or more starts and a sub-3.00 ERA. In that time, Santana led the majors in ERA (2.87) and strikeouts (1,479) and tied for second in wins (110).