Johan Santana, who is rehabbing from last years left shoulder surgery, says he is on schedule for a September return to the big leagues.

He told the NY Post that any projections for pitching after the All Star break or in August were best-case scenarios.

I was told by Dr. [David] Altchek this was going to take up to a year, so it’s going to take me to Sept. 14,” said Santana, who underwent surgery on that date last year to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder. “If I come back sooner, that would be great. If not, we’ll be fine. [Altchek] said there might be a possibility to come back within 10 months, but that was just a possibility. That was not a fact.”

The hopes are that August will bring a minor league rehab assignment. Rumors are already circulating that he will be pitching in Brooklyn for the Cyclones starting the 6th.

Santana says he still has faith in his Mets team and, spoken like a man who has $55 million left on his 2 year contract after this season, went on to say:

“Looking toward the future, we still have a pretty good chance to put a good team out there and compete.”

And if the Mets can’t get it done in 2 years, Santana will find anther team who can.