Johan Santana is not attempting an MLB comeback in 2019

Johan Santana — the two-time Cy Young-winning pitcher for the Minnesota Twins — will not be attempting an MLB comeback in 2019. This fact is news because Johan Santana normally points out that he hasn’t officially retired or announces that he is attempting a comeback every offseason. It is one of my favorite offseason staples to blog about.

The problem now is that Johan Santana actually officially retired when he was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in August — and, guys, I’m freaking out.

Johan Santana is still only 39 years old and I expected to be able to keep making these offseason posts for at least four more years, if not five or six. But now he’s not even leaving us guessing? Ladies and gentlemen, this is horseshit. I realize I may have been a bit facetious when previously reporting on his attempted comebacks, but it’s not like I never NOT wanted Johan to comeback. I am the number one proponent of Getting The Band Back Together.

I’m just kind of pissed off Johan is out there enjoying life now without even creating the illusion that he might pitch again. Just look at his damn Instagram.

Should I just be happy for Johan? Maybe. I guess I am, in a way. It’s just hard to come to terms with the fact he really, really is not coming back — and neither is Joe Mauer, and neither is Justin Morneau, or Kent Hrbek, or even me, for that matter (as the Twinkie Town site manager, at least). It’s weird when you wake up one day and realize you are old, and the people you’ve spent most of your life with are now “old” too, and everyone is moving on. You’d think the realization would happen more gradually, but it never seems to, even when you see it happening in real time.

Just as a thought experiment, let’s see how many of you remember these names:

• Jack Cressend
• Tony Fiore
• Mike Jackson
• Bobby Kielty
• Todd Sears
• Bob Wells
• David Ortiz
• Javier Valentin
• Manny Ramirez
• Mike Trombley

Those are all players from the 2002 Twins roster — the last time the team made it to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). I would OBVIOUSLY be able to remember all of these Band members, but I also recognize that more and more fans increasingly can not. To me, it seems like just yesterday I was watching all these players.

Again, time. It’s confusing and unhelpful. Probably like this blog post, and other posts I have written in the past.

Just to clarify: I don’t think Johan Santana is attempting an MLB comeback, and he hasn’t said that he is attempting one in 2019. Hence, I’m about 75% sure Johan Santana is not attempting an MLB comeback in 2019. Check back in a couple months for further clarification?