Johan Santana missed the entire 2011 season due to shoulder surgery. (US Presswire)

Mets left-hander Johan Santana intends to pitch for Team Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, reports MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner has been working his way into shape for the tournament.

Santana, 33, went 6-9 with a 4.85 ERA in 21 starts for New York last season. He threw the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 1, but the 134-pitch effort appeared to take a toll on his surgically repaired shoulder. Santana pitched to an 8.27 ERA in his final 10 starts after the no-hitter, and his season ended in mid-August due to an ankle sprain and lower back inflammation.

DiComo notes that because Santana finished last season on the disabled list, the WBC must be willing to insure the $31 million left on his contract before he can compete. The Mets could ask him to not participate in the tournament, though GM Sandy Alderson said he will not comment on the matter until Santana officially asks for permission to pitch in the Classic. He has not done that yet.

Santana pitched in the 2006 WBC, but he sat out the 2009 event due to a knee injury.

For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnBaseball on Twitter, subscribe to the RSS feed and "like" us on Facebook. Also, individually interact with us on Twitter: @MattSnyder27, @daynperry and @mikeaxisa.