Santana to throw off mound later this week

Johan Santana, who was shut down toward the end of last season, finally will throw off a mound Thursday or Friday at the team's spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., a Mets official confirmed.

Santana has been playing long toss to build up arm strength in advance of pitchers and catchers reporting on Monday, but a bullpen session would be his most significant test to date. He has not pitched in a major-league game since Sept. 2, 2010, and had surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder less than two weeks later.

A year ago at this time, the Mets provided optimistic timetables for Santana's return, with some projections having him back in the rotation before the All-Star break. But the nature of his shoulder surgery suggested a more drawn-out process, and Santana made only three rehab starts last season -- for a total of eight innings -- before the Mets shut him down after his Sept. 9 outing.

Santana is guaranteed $55 million through 2013, including a $5.5-million buyout of a 2014 club option worth $25 million. Before the shoulder surgery, Santana was 40-25 with a 2.85 ERA in 88 starts for the Mets.