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Santana makes debut for Mets

Mar 31, 2008 - 12:54 PM NY Mets (0-0) at Florida (0-0) 4:10 pm EDT

MIAMI (Ticker) - Johan Santana makes his debut for his new team Monday when the New York Mets face the Florida Marlins in the season opener for both teams.

The Mets landed arguably baseball's best pitcher when they acquired Santana - a two-time Cy Young Award winner - from the Minnesota Twins in early February for four prospects. The lefthander then signed a six-year contract worth more than $137 million with the Mets.

In Santana, the Mets now have a legitimate ace who should make the entire rotation better. He owns a career record of 93-44 with a 3.22 ERA.

Santana has won both of his career starts against the Marlins, allowing just two runs in 11 1/3 innings.

The acquisition of Santana helped take away some of the sting from the Mets' historic collapse last season whey they squandered a seven-game lead in the National League East with 17 games remaining en route to missing the playoffs.

With Santana on the mound, the Mets look to continue their success in openers. Since losing their first eight openers, they have won 29 times in 38 years. Offensively, the Mets should be able to score runs with the likes of David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado.

It was another offseason of change for the Marlins, who again are in a rebuilding stage after trading third baseman Miguel Cabrera and lefthander Dontrelle Willis to the Detroit Tigers.

Florida finished last season in last place in the NL East with a 71-91 record. The Marlins were responsible for eliminating the Mets from playoff contention in 2007 when they posted an 8-1 win at Shea Stadium on the final day of the regular season.

Mark Hendrickson, signed as a free agent in the offseason, gets the call for the Marlins. The lefthander, who has gone 8-18 over the last three seasons, went 4-8 for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2007.

Hendrickson has yielded one run in three innings in his career against the Mets.