Despite having more shoulder surgeries (two) than pitching appearances (one) since 2007, Kelvim Escobar will attempt a comeback as a reliever according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The right-hander hopes to throw for teams in March.
Escobar, 35 in April, has battled major shoulder injuries over the last three seasons, missing all of 2008 and 2010 while making one subpar start with the Angels in the middle of 2009. The Mets signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.25MM last spring, but he didn't even make it out of Spring Training healthy.
When healthy, Escobar has been very effective, posting a 3.60 ERA in 653 innings from 2004 through 2007, striking out 7.7 batters per nine innings while walking just 2.8 batters per nine unintentionally. As a reliever, he's held batters to a .243/.329/.385 batting line with 9.8 K/9 in 247 1/3 career innings, but that was a long, long time ago.
No problem, the Yankees will be holding open auditions in Tampa this Spring.
Can he pitch?
Nope
i thought his arm had fallen clean off
Just thinking the same thing.
He’s worth a minor league deal somewhere.
How about the Indians or Marlins?
watch,hes gunna come out for one game like he did with the Angels and get hurt again
Big deal. He has a shoulder problem. He got hurt. It happens.
Phillies depth???
I think he has the talent to make it back to the DL.
If he comes back, I bet ya it’ll only be for one pitch.
he’ll come back with a non-contender or a team that needs depth on incentive laden low money deal. I’m thinking Phillies, Nationals, Brewers, Astros, Royals, Angels or D-BAcks. maybe the nets
Someone should offer him a minor league deal. If he could come close to his relief numbers, even in limited time, it would be worth it. If the deal was incentive laden, it makes even more sense.
Any pitcher from the past can earn $800K from the Yankees right now.
Pedro? Come on down!
Moose? Come on down!
Curt? Come on down!
Randy? Come on down!
Mike Hampton? Come on down!
David Wells? Put down the beer and hot dog and come on down!
Older players getting minor league deals to see if they can contribute to the club is nothing new or even that noteworthy. Every team does it every year.
Moreso this year than years past for the Yankees….
Gaudin, Mitre, and Mosely were pretty prominent in the rotation the last couple of seasons. I don’t remember reading hundreds of redundant snarky comments then…
Snarky? That’s funny! You didn’t hear anything because the rotation was set:
Sabathia
Pettitte
Burnett
Hughes
Vasquez
Aceves
We were secure, those three mentioned were innings eaters.
He’s not just an “older player”, he’s a washed up pitcher with a bad arm who’s career is effectively over. Most teams don’t sign old, broken down players. Older, healthy players yes. The Yankees – desperation for starting pitching – have already signed three sore armed guys who should be retired now; I can’t imagine them adding another!
I’m waiting for a Ramiro Mendoza comeback.
J.P Ricciardi would rather have Miguel Batista.
Miguel Batista would actually be good, but I would give Escobar another chance with the Mets as well.
the fact that we paid this guy and never even threw a pitch for us makes me want to crap, he didn’t even get a chance to help us suck last year.
I think the Angels should give him a 4 year/$44 million dollar contract…then let him play 3B on days he’s not pitching.
3/44 , the years are more attractive to them.
I’m all for a guy giving it his all and trying to get back on the mound. Hey, sometimes they can even make it back. But man shoulder surgery is the one surgery that most all pitchers have trouble coming back from, and Kelvim has had two of them and hasn’t pitched for quite some time.
The odds are surely against him and I think a team that can give him a minor league contract while he attempts to convert himself into a relief pitcher should do it-only with the understanding that it’s unlikely to pay off. So if you are a team that always liked Escobar, and if he’s willing to sign cheaply while he tries another comeback, I’d do it.
This story runs every year at this time as Escobar has been trying to make a comeback the last 5 years.
This guy has never been healthy and this is one player its not worth even taking a chance on. He was supposed to be healthy last year when he signed with the Mets and look what happened.
Think about this Carl Pavano looks like an innings eater during his time with the Yankees when you compare it to Escobar’s time with the Angels. Everyone talked about Moreno not making offers this off season but that is a good thing when you look at the fact he gave a Escobar a huge deal when he did nothing to deserve or earn it.
So, which team will he choose to rip off this year for not pitching?