Johan Santana (shoulder) said Thursday that he has been throwing for three weeks on flat ground. Santana made about 25 throws on Thursday and hopes to stretch out to 110 feet on Friday. While the Mets expect him to be ready for spring training, the veteran southpaw admits that he has no idea how his surgically-repaired shoulder will respond to increased activity. "We'll see how it feels," said Santana. "I cannot tell you what happens five or six weeks from now. I'd be lying to you." He's a wait-and-see option in most fantasy leagues.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Thursday that Johan Santana (shoulder) is about three weeks into his offseason throwing program. Santana has thrown on consecutive days at a distance of 75 feet. While the Mets expect him to be ready for spring training, it's impossible to know how his shoulder will respond to increased activity. The 32-year-old hasn't thrown a pitch in the majors since undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder in September of 2010.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson labeled Johan Santana as a "question mark" and said he "might not be" ready for Opening Day. Santana didn't throw a pitch in the majors this season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last September. The Mets may have to go trolling for starting pitching behind Jon Niese, R.A. Dickey, Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee, because it's a fool's errand to count on Santana's health at this point. "If we stick someone in, who's the logical person to go down? We don't really have a logical candidate to go down," Alderson said. "But we do have some question marks, of course, with Santana being one of them. We think he's going to be ready, but he might not be. That's where the depth becomes important." Alderson mentioned Jeremy Hefner, claimed off waivers, as a pitcher who could potentially fill in.

Mets activated LHP Johan Santana from the 60-day disabled list. Santana didn't throw a pitch in the majors this season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last September. The veteran left-hander recently pitched in the instructional league without incident, so the Mets are hopeful he will enter spring training at 100 percent.

Johan Santana (shoulder) will shut down his rehab program for a few months after this week. Santana made good progress in the Mets' fall instructional league and is expected to enter spring training next February with a clean bill of health. The left-hander is owed a whopping $24 million salary in 2012.

Johan Santana (shoulder) made an appearance Friday in the instructional league. It's the first of two scheduled appearances, with the second one slated to come on October 7. Santana is not expected to play in winter ball. The left-hander has been progressing well over the last two months and, barring a setback, should enter spring training totally healthy.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Johan Santana (shoulder) is "unlikely" to go to winter ball in his native Venezuela this year. Santana will appear in instructional league games on October 1 and October 7, and evidently that will be it for him as far as game action goes until spring training. He's been feeling good of late and should be 100 percent next spring.

Johan Santana (shoulder) will appear in instructional league games on October 1 and October 7. He'll then be re-evaluated after those outings. It's possible Santana, who threw a three-inning simulated game Sunday, will appear in winter league games over the offseason. Though he didn't make it back this season as hoped, he's progressed well of late and should be fine for spring training.

Mets manager Terry Collins made official what has been suspected for some time: Johan Santana won't pitch for the Mets this season. "[Rehab coordinator] Randy Niemann told me today he's going to be ready for spring training," Collins said, "and that's good enough for me." Santana's next outing is expected to be a simulated contest in Fort Myers on Sunday. If his rehab progresses, he could make some winter ball appearances. As for next season, it's anyone's guess how successful Santana will be.

Johan Santana (shoulder) has backed out of his scheduled Thursday outing at Low-A Savannah. Santana was scheduled to go four innings, but it's a playoff game and Santana felt wrong interrupting the Single-A club's flow. He'll throw a simulated game Sunday instead. The Mets are no longer expecting him to return to the majors this season.