Johan Santana's Rehab Slowed

Read More: Johan Santana (P - NYM), New York Mets

Remember when Johan Santana's rehab was going well, and he was going to pitch in June or maybe July at the latest?

Scratch that. Here's the latest, from Mike Puma (via the Post):

Johan Santana has dealt with soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder for the last 1½ weeks, slowing his rehab process, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said yesterday.

As a result, the left-hander, who the Mets originally hoped would return by the All-Star break (which begins July 11), likely won't return until sometime in August.

At best, right? I suppose that "sometime in August" is most likely ... but significantly more likely than "sometime in September" or "sometime in the spring of 2012"? I'm not convinced. Santana's been mired in rehab hell for longer than anyone can remember, so at this point it will seem like something of a surprise if he ever pitches again, ever.

Oddly, even with Santana and Chris Young both on the shelf, the Mets' rotation has not been a Superfund site this spring, with only Mike Pelfrey really struggling. And if Pelfrey could just stop giving up so many home runs, the Mets might actually have five pretty good starting pitchers.

Will Santana someday make it six? "Sometime in August" seems a long ways away ...