Ervin Santana’s availability and résumé spoke loudly to a Mets team in need of starting pitching depth.
And so the 36-year-old right-hander will receive a chance to show he has got something left, after finalizing a minor league deal Friday with the Mets.
Santana, a former All-Star with the Angels and Twins, was designated for assignment by the White Sox in April after going 0-2 with a 9.45 ERA in three starts. He will report to Port St. Lucie to begin workouts and is expected to join the rotation at Triple-A Syracuse.
“It’s just a depth piece for us and it has some upside to it because when he gets rolling he can be a pretty good pitcher,” manager Mickey Callaway said before the Mets lost 9-8 to the Tigers. “He was an All-Star in 2017. I have been around him a lot and he can pitch. When he has that slider going it’s pretty tough.”
Santana’s addition comes after the Mets couldn’t reach an agreement last month with Gio Gonzalez, who has since thrived with the Brewers. Wilmer Font has provided the Mets with a measure of rotation depth in recent weeks.
With his homer in the fifth inning, Pete Alonso became the seventh player in major league history with at least 17 homers in his first 50 career games. Gary Sanchez and Cody Bellinger each hit 19 in their first 50 games. Rhys Hoskins and Wally Berger each hit 18. Alonso joined Wally Joyner and Jose Abreu with 17.
Hector Santiago threw a scoreless ninth inning in his Mets debut.
Jed Lowrie is participating in baseball activities in Port St. Lucie, according to Callaway, but hasn’t made enough headway to be considered yet for a minor league rehab assignment. Lowrie is battling a hamstring strain that followed his rehab from a sprained capsule in his left knee.
Jason Vargas is on schedule for activation from the IL on Saturday to pitch against the Tigers. The left-hander last appeared in a major league game against the Brewers nearly three weeks ago before leaving with hamstring tightness.
Ryan O’Rourke was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to create roster space for Aaron Altherr.