Johan Santana Unsure If He'll Pitch in WBC

Johan Santana is unsure whether he'll be able to pitch in the World Baseball Classic following offseason knee surgery.

This Sept. 23, 2008 file photo shows New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana delivers throwing against...

This Sept. 23, 2008 file photo shows New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana delivers throwing against the Chicago Cubs in a baseball game at Shea Stadium in New York. Santana is unsure whether he'll be able to pitch in the World Baseball Classic following offseason knee surgery. The two-time Cy Young Award winner said Wednesday Jan. 14, 2009, he'd love to play for his native Venezuela in March, but the New York Mets will determine whether to clear him for the WBC. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

(AP)

The two-time Cy Young Award winner said Wednesday he'd love to play for his native Venezuela in March, but the New York Mets will determine whether to clear him for the WBC.

"My mind is set to play, but at this point I don't know what is going to happen with the medical staff and the team. They have a lot to protect," Santana said during a telephone conference call. "If they don't want me to play then I won't play."

After a brilliant first season with the Mets, Santana had arthroscopic surgery Oct. 1 on torn cartilage in his left knee. He said he feels good and he might report about a week early to New York's spring training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla., next month.

"Just to make sure that we're all on the same page and just to make sure that we follow everything that we're supposed to follow," he said.

The left-hander said he's spoken to New York general manager Omar Minaya about his rehabilitation and the chances of him pitching in the WBC.

"I don't really know what they're going to do," Santana said. "He told me if everything goes right, then he might let me play.

"At the same time, there's some question marks that we have to answer once we start working out in Port St. Lucie."

Venezuela's first game in the WBC is March 7 against Italy in Toronto.

Santana participated in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, when Venezuela was eliminated in the second round. The squad had problems with several issues including team meals and tickets for players' family members, but Santana sounded confident that all that had been rectified.

"I'm pretty sure that they're organized," he said. "The players' association here has said everything will be in place."

Santana was 16-7 with a major league-best 2.53 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 234 1-3 innings last season after the Mets acquired him from Minnesota in a blockbuster trade. He completed the first season of a $137.5 million, six-year contract.