Johan Santana threw another successful session in an extended spring game on Friday.

He didn't pitch as well as he did the last time out, but the most important thing to take away was that he felt fine. He's still reportedly hitting between 87 and 89 mph with his fastball and could be an option for the Orioles at some point in June if he continues to progress.

Johan Santana (shoulder) threw 28 pitches over two innings in an extended spring training game Monday.

Santana was hitting 87-89 mph with his fastball -- a marked improvement over where he was just a couple weeks ago. The veteran left-hander could be an option for the Orioles at some point in early June.

Orioles executive vice president Dan Duquette said in an interview Sunday that Johan Santana (shoulder) is hoping to be major league-ready by June 1.

Santana had his first extended spring training start rained out Saturday, as he'll pitch on Monday instead. The lefty's progress to this point has been good, as he's up to the 86-87 mph range with his fastball. He should join a minor league affiliate before long. Obviously, Santana is a complete wild card, but the Orioles are encouraged so far.

Johan Santana (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in an extended spring training game Saturday.

Santana hit 87 mph with his fastball in a simulated game on Wednesday, an improvement on where his velocity was a few weeks ago. The left-hander will continue to rebuild his arm strength at the Orioles' spring training complex. He shouldn't be counted on for much this year.

According to Peter Gammons, Johan Santana has seen his velocity slowly climb and isn't far away from being ready to return to the big leagues.

Santana is now up to 85 MPH and continues to make steady progress. He has his sights set on becoming the winningest Venezuelan pitcher of all time, though fantasy owners shouldn't expect much even if he does make his way to the Orioles.

Johan Santana (shoulder) threw 33 pitches over two simulated innings on Saturday.

Manny Machado (knee) was his hitting opponent for much of the workout. Santana claims to be making steady progress, but his velocity was way off throughout the spring and the Orioles haven't put a radar gun on him yet. Expectations should remain low for now.

Johan Santana (shoulder) threw a simulated game Monday.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was impressed with what he saw and said that Santana showed good velocity. Reports on his velocity weren't promising back in February, but he was still in the early stages of building his arm strength after his second major shoulder surgery. The veteran southpaw is a bit of a lottery ticket at this point, but the O's are hopeful they'll get something out of him this summer.

Johan Santana (shoulder) is scheduled to throw two innings in a simulated game on Monday.

This is the next step in Santana's long road back to the big leagues after major shoulder surgery. There is no timetable for Santana's return, but the Orioles could use him either out of the bullpen or in the rotation. The specifics will be answered much later on down the line.

Johan Santana (shoulder) threw off a full-mound Thursday.

It's a big step for Santana, who is making his way back from another major shoulder surgery. The veteran southpaw is unlikely to be an option for the Orioles until a couple of months into the season and can't be counted on to be a major contributor this year, but if there's anybody could defy expectations and surprise, it's Santana.

Johan Santana (shoulder) is scheduled to throw from a full-mound on Thursday.

Santana is being eased into things as he makes his way back from another major shoulder surgery. The Orioles signed the former Cy Young Award winner earlier this month as a potential rotation option, but he's a lottery ticket at this point.

Johan Santana (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session from a half-mound on Saturday.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter and several members of his staff were on hand to watch the performance. He'll throw again in a couple of days as he continues to work his way back from major shoulder surgery. He remains an extreme longshot to deliver fantasy value this season.

Johan Santana threw a 25-pitch side session Wednesday.

He'll pitch off a half mound in his next scheduled throwing routine. The former Cy Young winner is making his way back from another major shoulder surgery. Orioles manager Buck Showalter said earlier this month that he sees Santana strictly as a starter.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday that he sees Johan Santana strictly as a starter.

There has been speculation that Santana could be used as a reliever, but Showalter isn't planning on changing his role. Of course, it's far from a sure thing that the veteran southpaw will even make it back to the majors after his second shoulder capsule surgery, but he's not a bad lottery ticket.

Orioles signed LHP Johan Santana to a minor league contract.

Santana will be on the major league side of camp this spring with the Orioles, though he probably won't be appearing in any Grapefruit League games. He's on his way back from another major shoulder surgery and topped out at just 81 mph last week during a showcase for interested teams. This is a speculative add for the O's, who could use Santana as a starter or in relief once he's ready for major league competition.

Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports that Johan Santana (shoulder) "could be used as a reliever once he's able to pitch."

It was Kubatko who reported earlier Monday that the Orioles "have an agreement in place" with Santana on a minor league deal. Santana would surely prefer to be used as a starter, but he's probably willing to do just about anything to make it back to the majors. The left-hander missed all of last season following a second major shoulder surgery. Projecting any sort of timetable for Santana is probably a fruitless exercise, but Kubatko says the left-hander "may be at least a few months away."

MASN's Roch Kubatko reports that the Orioles are nearing a minor league contract with Johan Santana.

Santana was in Orioles camp on Monday working out the details. He topped out at 81 mph during a throwing session for teams last Tuesday, so the O's will likely keep him at extended spring training when they head north for the regular season and hope he can become a valuable asset at some point during the summer. Santana, 34, is recovering from a second major shoulder surgery.

Free agent starter Johan Santana was spotted leaving the Orioles' spring training complex on Monday.

It's possible that he was there for a workout. Or maybe even a physical. Santana topped out at just 81 mph during a recent throwing showcase for teams, but the 34-year-old would still make sense as a flier for the O's on a non-guaranteed minor league deal. He's on his way back from another major shoulder surgery.

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox weren't one of the teams to attend Johan Santana's throwing session Tuesday.

Seven teams did attend the workout, including the Orioles and Twins, among others. It was said that Santana topped out at 81 mph during the session, so it's clear he's got some work to do before he'll be able to help a team. If and when he does, it seems the Red Sox aren't likely to be that organization.

Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports that the Orioles were one of the teams that attended Johan Santana's (shoulder) throwing session Tuesday.

Santana was sitting mostly in the upper 70s, but apparently the O's could still be interested in him on a minor league deal. The veteran left-hander is clearly a ways away from being ready to face major league hitters, and it's far from a given that he'll ever get back to that point.

According to George A. King III of the New York Post, Johan Santana (shoulder) topped out at 81 mph during his throwing session Tuesday.

Santana mostly worked between 77-78 mph while mixing in his changeup. The veteran southpaw is still in the process of rebuilding strength after his second shoulder capsule surgery, but the lack of velocity is obviously discouraging. The Yankees were among seven teams in attendance Tuesday, but Santana obviously isn't close to major-league ready.