Mets left-hander Johan Santana is cautioning that he isn't a lock to pitch for the team this season. However, Santana is on schedule in his rehabilitation from left shoulder surgery. He told The New York Post on Thursday that any projections he would return this year at the All-Star break, or even 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," Santana said. "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 Mets denied a report last night that Santana's season debut could come on Aug. 21 at Citi Field. A club spokesman called the situation "fluid" and said no schedule has been set.