About a half dozen clubs have expressed interest in right-hander Brett Tomko, tweets MLBTR's Zach Links. The 40-year-old will throw for teams within the next few weeks either in California or Arizona, Links reports.
Tomko is open to a bullpen role and is willing to go to Triple-A and mentor pitching prospects, which, according to Links (via Twitter), should help him land a job. Links notes, in a separate tweet, potential suitors will evaluate Tomko at his throwing session, but won't make a decision until late in camp based on the depth of their pitching staffs.
Tomko, who impressed during his stint in the Dominican League, spent the 2013 season with the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League. He made 19 starts (two complete games) compiling a 4.98 ERA, 6.5 K/9, and 2.2 BB/9 in 124 2/3 innings. Tomko's last MLB appearance was eight games in 2011 coming out of the Rangers' bullpen. During his 14-year Major League career, Tomko has posted a 4.65 ERA, 6.0 K/9, and 2.9 BB/9 in 367 games (266 starts).
Tomko was always my go to comparison for Vets that make too much money that arent very good and are just taking up a spot that could be given to a minor leaguer for a much cheaper price that would yield the same results. Almost any minor leaguer could go out and have a losing record while having a 4.50 era or higher
Say what you will about Tomko, I admire the heck out of a guy who has enough money to never work again, but is still clearly intent on playing as long as he possibly can. That’s some serious love of the game.
“Half dozen” is a more general number than “6,” the same way “a couple” is a more general number than 2.
If you want your pitching prospects to have a mentor who will teach them how to be slightly below average, Brett Tomko is the man for your organization.
Several of the best managers and coaches have been never has beens. Fact that he remained in the league so long despite less than fantastic stuff probably is an attribute to his baseball knowledge.
6 teams being interested in bringing in Brett Tomko is the best evidence I have ever seen for contraction in MLB. If the talent level is so thin that a 40 year old that wasn’t THAT good at 30 is a hot commodity, the talent pool has gotten too shallow.
My guess is if this is true they are interested in signing him to a minor league contract.
I didn’t think they were going to offer him a major league deal out of the Atlantic League. But even offering him a minor league deal at this point in his career says a lot about the talent pool.
I always think about that Giants tiebreaker game when I think of Tomko. That was a good day for Dodgers fans.
bomko scared me as a dodger fan. I’m pretty sure he pitched well that game too, dodgers just got lucky getting into the giants bull pen. hermanson sucked. I’m not complaining though, that was a good day haha.
I hope, he ends up with a team in PCL than will be coming to Cheney Stadium as I have bunch of his cards that, I would like to get autograph…
Guys, guys, it says half a dozen teams. It doesn’t say they are necessarily major league teams. I know my buddy’s softball team could use a pitcher, for example.