Santana cleared to throw, no time frame for return

Mets lefthander Johan Santana will begin throwing before spring training, but  there is no timetable for when he will pitch in 2011, reports indicated today. 
 

Santana met with the team’s medical staff this week and was cleared to begin a rehabilitation program that will include throwing.
 

Santana required surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder.  He was in the third year of a six-year contract for $137.5 million contract when he was sidelined by the injury that caused him to miss the final month of the season. He was 11-9 with a 2.98 ERA.