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Angels Could Soon Sign Mark Mulder

By charliewilmoth | December 27, 2013 at 8:00pm CDT

8:24pm: Mulder has offers from "several" teams and has not yet decided who he'll sign with, agent Brian Charles tells Fletcher (via Twitter).

8:00pm: Mulder and the Angels have not yet agreed to terms, but if they do, it will be on a minor-league deal, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register tweets.

5:17pm: The Angels appear to be the favorites to sign free-agent pitcher Mark Mulder, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweets. Cafardo reports that the Angels could soon sign Mulder to an incentive-laden contract.

Mulder, 36, is trying to make a comeback after retiring in 2010. He has not appeared in the Majors since 2008, and has only appeared in six games since 2006, having spent the last few years of his career struggling through shoulder injuries. He threw for three teams in November. Giants GM Brian Sabean recently said Mulder was looking for a big-league contract. Given his history, though, it would be surprising if he got one.

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Los Angeles Angels Mark Mulder

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139 Comments

  1. Tired_OF_FakeRumors

    11 years ago

    The Yankees are looking to get younger.

    Reply
    • JJ 3

      11 years ago

      Im so tired of this joke

      Reply
      • Mike LaRose

        11 years ago

        Yeah I am too but considering that two of the Yankees players retired and they still got older doesn’t help

        Reply
        • Lionel Bossman Craft

          11 years ago

          The Yankees aren’t even the oldest team.

          Reply
          • Tko11

            11 years ago

            Really? Which team is?

            Reply
            • zurr en arrh

              11 years ago

              *cough* Phillies *cough*

              Reply
              • Tko11

                11 years ago

                Are you sure? Because just looking at the depth chart seems like the Phillies roster is overall younger than the Yankees.
                Younger>Older
                McCann>Ruiz
                Tex > Howard
                Roberts < Utley
                Jeter < Rollins
                Arod < Asche
                Soriano / Gardner < Brown
                Ellsbury < Revere
                Beltran and Byrd born the same year
                They both have some oldies on the bench in Ichiro, Nieves, Wells.
                Pitching seems to be in favor of the Phillies. Other than Lee and Adams the rest are relatively young. Kuroda is 38 and CC is 33, the rest are relatively young as well.

                Reply
                • JJ 3

                  11 years ago

                  Phillies Average Age is 28.2 and NYY Average Age is 28.1. 😉

                  Reply
                • Dbacksfan44

                  11 years ago

                  Revere isnt better than Ellsbury

                  Reply
                  • Tko11

                    11 years ago

                    Umm maybe read the entire post then…its about age hence why I added a key for you: Younger > Older

                    Reply
            • MB923

              11 years ago

              Rank/Team/Average age
              1 – Boston 28.5
              2 – San Francisco 28.4
              3- Philadelphia 28.2
              4- LA Dodgers 28.1
              5- NY Yankees 28.1

              Reply
              • feztonio

                11 years ago

                the braves are youngest at 27.3. how is 8 months difference between the yankees and the braves a statistical difference-maker?

                it’s like in the Simpsons where lisa shows homer a rock, and tells him the rock keeps tigers away; when homer doubts her rock, lisa asks..”well, do you see any tigers”? homer responds by asking Lisa to buy her rock.

                it’s the off season and writers and websites/magazines are struggling to fill the days until spring training. age is really irrelevant when it’s mere months difference between the youngest and oldest average age line-ups.

                Reply
                • MB923

                  11 years ago

                  Where did I say anything about the Braves? And who down votes facts?

                  Reply
                • MB923

                  11 years ago

                  Braves are the 6th youngest and average age is 26.5. Mariners are youngest. Average age 25.6

                  Reply
          • RoadWarriorUSCA

            11 years ago

            Really because the Yankees have the oldest avg in the Majors.

            Reply
            • JJ 3

              11 years ago

              no way. Boston is oldest Avg team 28.5. Yankees AVG 28.1

              Reply
            • MB923

              11 years ago

              No they don’t. Read the rankings I posted above.

              Reply
        • JJ 3

          11 years ago

          Mariano was 44 and Andy Pettitte was 41. NYY sign
          Mccann (29) , Ellsbury (31), and Beltran (36). NOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW “they still got older”.

          Reply
          • Mike LaRose

            11 years ago

            Id have to look it up but there was a NY Post article about it a couple of weeks ago

            Reply
          • RoadWarriorUSCA

            11 years ago

            I love how you took Jeter out of the discussion.

            Reply
            • JJ 3

              11 years ago

              Mike said “considering that two of the Yankees players retired ” so we not talking about jeter

              Reply
          • PileOfSandwich 2

            11 years ago

            Because the players they replaced were younger.

            Reply
      • RyÅnWKrol

        11 years ago

        Me too. And this one doesn’t even make sense.

        Reply
  2. RoadWarriorUSCA

    11 years ago

    And this is why people think of the Angels Organization as pathetic. Yeah there’s a household name… about 10-years ago!

    Reply
    • stl_cards16

      11 years ago

      Signings like this don’t hurt anything. Maybe he is healthy and could give a team some solid innings. I’m sure the Angels weren’t the only team willing to give him a shot.

      Reply
      • RoadWarriorUSCA

        11 years ago

        No the Angels are the only organization that would give a contract to a guy who hasn’t even played since 2008.

        Reply
        • Scott 33

          11 years ago

          That’s called “making stuff up.”

          Reply
          • RoadWarriorUSCA

            11 years ago

            How am I making it up when he hasn’t played a single game since 2008. Look up Mark Mulder on Baseball Reference.

            Reply
            • gammaraze

              11 years ago

              Stop making stuff up… there’s no such thing as Baseball Reference… and I don’t use it religiously… LOL

              Reply
            • zurr en arrh

              11 years ago

              Talking about the part about angels signing a guy who hasn’t played since 2008

              Reply
            • Scott 33

              11 years ago

              It’s “making stuff up” to say only the Angels would sign him. According to MLBTR in one of their previous articles on Mulder in December, there were multiple MLB teams watching him pitch. You don’t send people to watch someone pitch unless you have interest in them.

              You say that because you don’t have to substantiate it with any proof. Teams sign reclamation projects all the time. It’s a part of the league, as much as signing 9-figure contracts. Every team does it. All you’re doing is spewing hatred toward a team you have clear bias against (since we know you’re a Rangers fan).

              Reply
        • Omarj

          11 years ago

          sounds to me like a lot of hating. Teams were interested in Mulder, not just the angels. I like this move. Low risk, high reward. If he can pitch 60-100 good innings I’ll take it.

          Reply
          • gammaraze

            11 years ago

            He hasn’t pitched that many innings since 2006… The Rangers have a better chance of success bringing back Nolan Ryan as their closer.

            Reply
            • Omarj

              11 years ago

              we’ll see. He’s only 36 and he’s been out of baseball for a while. If his delivery improved and he’s more deceptive, that could be huge.

              Reply
              • gammaraze

                11 years ago

                How many pitchers do you know that have taken 5 years off of baseball to work on their delivery/mechanics and make it back to the Majors?? And we’re AUTOMATICALLY going to ignore any pitcher from the WWII era.

                Reply
                • zurr en arrh

                  11 years ago

                  The signing is most likely a MINOR league contract, not a MAJOR league one. If he does get that minor league contract, he has to fight for a spot on opening day

                  Reply
                • gursky_1989

                  11 years ago

                  Jose Rijo

                  Reply
            • RyÅnWKrol

              11 years ago

              So what? There have been several rookies in their 30s who never played a major league game but still found success. Sounds like you’re reaching for excuses to bash a team you don’t like instead of having a baseball discussion with facts.

              Reply
          • RoadWarriorUSCA

            11 years ago

            Not hating. Just stating the Obvious.

            Reply
            • Halosfan777

              11 years ago

              That signing a pitcher to an incentive laden contract makes an organization pathetic? That’s hardly the obvious. Mulder hasn’t pitched since the stone age, I get it. But for any team that needs cheap pitching depth this makes sense.

              Reply
            • ..

              11 years ago

              fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1011&posit…

              Reply
            • LocustFarm

              11 years ago

              Nothing you’ve said on the matter is stating the obvious. Why not just look at it objectively instead of being an angry Rangers fan?

              Reply
        • Josh Blackfeild

          11 years ago

          Nice going Dipoto….

          Reply
        • zurr en arrh

          11 years ago

          Blue Jays signed Tomo Ohka who hasn’t pitched just one less year and one year older.

          Reply
          • Dawson Carlson

            11 years ago

            To a minor league deal mind you and he’s also a knuckleballer now

            Reply
        • RyÅnWKrol

          11 years ago

          So have you talked to all the other organizations? Doubt they’d agree with you.

          Reply
        • Scott 33

          11 years ago

          Oh, look at this, several hours later: the article has been updated to note that Mulder has NOT signed with the Angels yet, and is in fact considering offers from MULTIPLE teams. Gee golly, don’t you look even sillier now?

          Reply
        • publius varrus

          11 years ago

          The Blue Jays signed Tomo Ohka to a minor league contract. I know it’s not within the parameters suggested (someone “who hasn’t even played since 2008”), but the spirit of the signing is similar: a former major leaguer who’s changed his delivery is being considered as a potential contributor to a big league team..

          Ohka’s value was spent, so he learned to throw a knuckler. He’s enjoyed *ahem* modest *ahem* success with it. The Jays have a knuckler in their rotation. They also have young catchers in the minors. It’s a forward-thinking move to get another knuckler. Ergo, there’s value to signing a seemingly washed-up former major leaguer.

          I don’t know what LAA is thinking, but I also don’t understand how this is a bad move. There’s little-to-no risk involved.

          Reply
    • Scott 33

      11 years ago

      If the Angels were signing him to a multi-million dollar pact to be at the front of the rotation (or even to be a guaranteed part of the BACK of the rotation), you’d have a point.

      As is, you seem to just be looking for something to fit a narrative. Teams sign reclamation projects to incentive-laden minor league deals all the time. You win some and lose some, but that’s the point. If you win, you found cheap, incentive-based support. If you lose, you cut the bait and forget it happened within days. How is this worthy of scoffing at? Scott Kazmir made a million bucks last year for a 1.1 WAR season as a middle-rotation arm. Bartolo Colon did similar for the Yankees a few years ago. R.A. Dickey gave the Mets a Cy Young award for $4 million a couple years ago (at Mark Mulder’s current age, mind you), and before they picked him up he’d never had a good season IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER.

      Mulder’s a long shot, but so what?

      Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      How exactly do you figure that people think the Angels are pathetic? Do you have survey results or is that just a rivalry bias? Signing Mark Mulder to a 1 year contract doesn’t hurt anything. In fact there’s never any point in criticizing a 1 year contract.

      Reply
      • Phil Merkel

        11 years ago

        As a Rangers fan I agree with you totally…just look at the list of spares the Rangers just signed to minor-league contracts with some invites to ST…low risk – – high reward…it’s a small gamble if it hits…I don’t know why people can’t see that.

        Reply
    • Mark Smith

      11 years ago

      I’d rather see the Angels take a chance on Mulder than waste money this winter and have nothing left to give Mike Trout. Two straight bad winters have ruined the Angels. No more big splashes unless it’s for Trout.

      Reply
  3. tom5467

    11 years ago

    its only for pitching depth, and it wont be for much money…and if he meets incentives, it means he had a good year.

    Reply
    • RoadWarriorUSCA

      11 years ago

      The last good year of Mark Mulders career was in the 2005 season when he was a ST Louis Cardinal.

      Reply
      • bjsguess

        11 years ago

        What is your point?

        IF (did you see that IF) he makes any money that only means that he pitched well. The opposite statement is also true – if he doesn’t pitch well he gets no money. Why is that so hard for you to understand?

        Reply
  4. letsgogiants

    11 years ago

    I guess the Angels are looking for bullpen arms anyway they can.

    Reply
  5. disadvantage 2

    11 years ago

    Considering he made his comeback emulating Paco Rodriguez’s delivery, is it fair to say he has the ceiling of a Paco Rodriguez-like player?

    Reply
  6. gammaraze

    11 years ago

    The Angels are letting go of a guy whose last stint in the Majors resulted in an ERA of 10.80… and are going to replace him with a guy whose last stint in the Majors resulted in an ERA of 10.80, only this guy hasn’t pitched in the Majors in 5 years…

    Reply
    • RoadWarriorUSCA

      11 years ago

      That’s why I said that this is pathetic.

      Reply
    • Lionel Bossman Craft

      11 years ago

      Who Kazmir?

      Reply
      • gammaraze

        11 years ago

        Replacing Chris Volstad (heading to Korea) with Mark Mulder

        Reply
        • Lionel Bossman Craft

          11 years ago

          Ok I just saw they released him earlier today.

          Reply
          • gammaraze

            11 years ago

            Besides, Kazmir posted a 4.04 ERA in 158 innings; he’s out of their league… almost 😛

            Reply
        • zurr en arrh

          11 years ago

          To most likely a minor league contract

          Reply
          • gammaraze

            11 years ago

            Which DIRECTLY translates to desperation: “We’re so desperate to catch lightning in a bottle, that we’ll sign a guy who hasn’t even played in 5 years”

            Reply
            • zurr en arrh

              11 years ago

              So what, if he’s bad, he’s gone, if he’s actually good (hardly dout it), major league contract

              Reply
            • RyÅnWKrol

              11 years ago

              No it translates to bring the front runners to signing Mark Mulder. And that’s it. Lots of teams are involved. This is something teams do all the time. Stop bashing a team without proof to back up your statements and start learning the game on the front office end of things.

              Reply
            • LocustFarm

              11 years ago

              It’s called pitching depth. Who cares how long he hasn’t pitched for in the big leagues? Does it really matter? This is such a non-issue it boggles my mind that people like you are making a big deal about it. These moves are made on a regular basis, but because it’s a player who hasn’t pitched in MLB in some years possibly going to a team that’s a division rival to your favorite team, you call it “desperation”.

              Reply
        • bjsguess

          11 years ago

          Honestly, I just don’t get people.

          Releasing Volstad was a non-issue. 99.9% of baseball fans didn’t even know that Volstad was signed by the Angels to pitch in the minors. 100% of baseball fans don’t care that he was released to play in Japan.

          Same goes here. The probability of Mulder contributing anything significant is very, very small. However, they are risking literally nothing by signing him (especially to a minor league deal). If he stinks then he’s cut and the franchise eats a few thousand in salary. If by some miracle he can contribute the Angels can promote him and take advantage of a cheap resource.

          It’s not like the team is committing $10M/season to him or that they expect ANYTHING out of him. All they are doing is exploring a low risk option with a player.

          Reply
          • DarthMurph

            11 years ago

            100% don’t care that Volstad was released to play in Japan because he was released to play in Korea.

            Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      Minor league contract. No one is replacing anyone in any significant spot here. Neither would even be on the 40 man roster until opening day.

      Reply
  7. Chioakcisco

    11 years ago

    What if he was a mole sent by Billy Beane to once again destroy the Angels’ pitching staff??

    …an A’s fan can dream, I suppose.

    Reply
    • gammaraze

      11 years ago

      That wouldn’t take much work to do.

      Reply
  8. Brandon Mason

    11 years ago

    Wow.. I Thought they were going after Garza or Tanaka!?

    Reply
    • Omarj

      11 years ago

      they still can. mulder wouldn’t be getting big dollars. I bet with incentives most he could make is 3-4mil tops

      Reply
      • Brandon Mason

        11 years ago

        But aren’t the Angels Trying to stay UNDER the Luxury Tax? If they signed him to a deal that low then the next pitcher they sign will get 16-17 mil which would put them over the Luxury Tax

        Reply
        • bjsguess

          11 years ago

          They are between $15-$20M under the luxury tax. This deal will cost them NOTHING. At most you are talking about a few million IF he makes it to the big leagues and pitches well. This signing will not impact their decision to go after Garza/Tanaka, etc. Paying a luxury tax on a few million is chump change.

          Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      They are. Their initial targets are Garza and Santana, but they will still go after Tanaka whether or not they sign one of the other two. Arte Moreno said he’d only go over the luxury tax for the right player, and Tanaka is just that. The Mulder signing is just insurance, likely to replace Volstad and hoping for an additional lefty arm in the bullpen, or perhaps a spot start or two if needed instead of Joe Blanton.

      Reply
      • Brandon Mason

        11 years ago

        Signing Santana Would Cost The Angels a Draft Pick. So i don’t see them making an offer to him.

        Reply
        • RyÅnWKrol

          11 years ago

          Santana also gives them a SP they need for the next few years that helps the team faster than that draft pick would, with much higher guarantee. I think with more attention being paid to prospects, fans are forgetting what it actually takes to win at the major league level: major league talent. The Angels can still continue rebuilding their farm system, even if they forfeit their first round pick. They have a lot of control over a lot of good players on their roster.

          Reply
      • Jack Miller

        11 years ago

        Didn’t they already have Santana up until 2013. Doubt they would bring him back, especially with a draft pick on the line.

        Reply
        • RyÅnWKrol

          11 years ago

          Teams bring former players back all the time. The first round pick will be less of an issue once teams that want to contend realize they have to sign a Santana or a Jiminez to get them over the hump.

          Reply
  9. Gary Kimbrel

    11 years ago

    So they still need a FA SP, but if this crazy plan works out, they’ll have some depth. Does the Ibanez signing mean they’re out on Morales?

    Reply
    • Omarj

      11 years ago

      they never were in on morales. plus he would’ve cost them a 1st round pick. Morales is with Boras and they’ll be asking for too much. The angels need pitching. And they’ll probaby get outbid for tanaka which means they’ll get garza

      Reply
      • Gary Kimbrel

        11 years ago

        Just trying to figure out who has a legit need for Morales. Any thoughts? I can’t see him going to an NL team.

        Reply
    • Josh Blackfeild

      11 years ago

      Morales? Ha!

      Reply
      • Gary Kimbrel

        11 years ago

        You can really paint a picture. Any thoughts on Morales? Has to be an AL team right?

        Reply
        • Josh Blackfeild

          11 years ago

          What?

          Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      What crazy plan? The Angels aren’t involved with Morales.

      Reply
      • Gary Kimbrel

        11 years ago

        Crazy was not meant literally, and the two ideas were not related.

        Reply
  10. Guest 3871

    11 years ago

    Jerry you continue to amaze me. You make a good trade in getting Santiago and Skaggs, a decent signing in Ibanez, and now you’re going for an old guy in Mulder? He’s just a waste of money needed to sign Garza.

    Reply
    • Scott 33

      11 years ago

      How much money do you think Mulder is going to command, exactly? There is no possible scenario in which the signing of Mulder prevents them from signing Garza or Tanaka.

      Reply
      • Josh Blackfeild

        11 years ago

        I don’t see any way he could help the Angels at the ML level. I rather spend money on Garza than this unproven guy.

        Reply
        • Scott 33

          11 years ago

          It’s NOT an either-or scenario. They’re not signing Mulder INSTEAD of Garza. They’re signing him as a depth-addition, possibly to a minor league roster, with a contract based on incentives. These deals happen constantly in MLB, with every team. The Angels aren’t saying “we can’t get Garza, so let’s get Mulder.” They’re saying “let’s get Garza or Tanaka, but let’s also pad our depth chart with some cheap options to back up our guys in case of injuries or poor performance.” Mulder’s deal will only be of any real value if he performs well. As is, his contract will have no impact on the signings of other free agent SPs.

          This is how teams compete. This is how they assemble depth.

          Reply
          • Josh Blackfeild

            11 years ago

            I never said Garza or Mulder. I meant Garza will probably want more money so don’t waste it on Mulder.

            Reply
            • zurr en arrh

              11 years ago

              If they’re going way over luxury tax for Garza, then they paid too much. considering that the angels only have two lefties in the pen (three if Santiago does not get in the rotation), adding lefties to a minor league contract wouldn’t be a bad thing, especially if Burnett is not healthy this year

              Reply
            • RyÅnWKrol

              11 years ago

              Mulder will get peanuts so it really has no impact on whether or not they’ll sign Garza, otherwise they wouldn’t be intent on signing Mulder at all.

              Reply
        • zurr en arrh

          11 years ago

          The only guy he’s replacing is Volstad who left for Korea in a minor league contract

          Reply
        • Jeffy25

          11 years ago

          And when mulder pulls a colon here, you’ll be surprised.

          This is a no-lose signing.

          One year, minor league deal, would not prevent the angels from signing garza or tanaka.

          Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      These comments are getting ridiculous. Every GM signs veterans to minor league contracts for the purpose of filling holes at AAA and possibly at the major league level.

      Reply
  11. Osiris Torres

    11 years ago

    Good to hear that mulder’s getting another shot. Maybe he has something up his sleeve and can amaze. Not getting my hopes up whatsoever but who knows. Do it dipoto.

    Reply
  12. Curt Green

    11 years ago

    Favorites? Like there are teams lining up to sign him??

    Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      Actually they are.

      Reply
  13. pft2

    11 years ago

    Who needs Tanaka when you can get a Mulder. Good luck Angels fans

    Reply
  14. vegasangelsfan

    11 years ago

    Calm down people, geez. Signing a low cost guy on an incentive laden deal does not preclude them from signing Tanaka or Garza. I am not sure they are going to sign either of those guys anyway, but this signing IN NO WAY impacts their ability to do so. A little possible depth on a team without any is a good low risk signing. If he is good again, awesome. He if never pitches in the big leagues, then he was worth a shot and was taken on at very low risk. Teams sign guys on minor league contracts all the time, just because this guy happened to be very good many years ago and has been out of the game for some time does not make this signing “terrible” as the uninformed masses seem to believe. I, for one, wish Mark the best of luck on his comeback attempt, and I did so back when it was announced and before he was linked to the Angels. I guess haters want to hate though.

    Reply
    • Josh Blackfeild

      11 years ago

      Knowing Dipoto he won’t make it “low cost”

      Reply
      • vegasangelsfan

        11 years ago

        I think most of the crazy overpays so far have been at the demand of Moreno, and not DiPoto’s fault. I can’t know that for sure though since I have no intimate knowledge of the behind the scenes discussions. I would be shocked if this deal was for any significant money or any major league guarantee. This *should* be a minor league contract with incentives.

        Reply
      • zurr en arrh

        11 years ago

        So… Raul Ibanez was not low cost?

        Reply
        • Josh Blackfeild

          11 years ago

          Ibanez will actually help the team. He’s a proven player, something this Mulder guy isn’t.

          Reply
          • zurr en arrh

            11 years ago

            That’s why Mulder is getting a minor league contract. He to battle against more favorable lefties to earn a spot. I’m pretty sure what they would pay him would not hinder signing Garza or Tanaka

            Reply
  15. BK

    11 years ago

    OMG the Angels are up to their old tricks. Signing a player to the veteran minimum, not guaranteeing him a roster spot! This is why the Rangers and A’s are the class of the west. and another thing! (Charlie Brown teacher noise…)

    edit for the down-votes: /s

    Reply
    • Josh Blackfeild

      11 years ago

      How does that make Texas and Oakland better…? And do you have any examples?

      Reply
    • Scott 33

      11 years ago

      Like when the Rangers signed Manny Ramirez last year? Or Colby Lewis this year? I know, right!? Only the Angels sign veterans to minor league deals! The outrage!

      …stop making things up.

      Reply
      • BK

        11 years ago

        sarcasm. Have you heard of it? This is a no-risk move that might help.

        Reply
        • zurr en arrh

          11 years ago

          Sarcasm doesn’t usually carry if it’s not spoken

          Reply
        • Scott 33

          11 years ago

          Before you hide behind the ‘sarcasm’ excuse, please notice the plethora of people voicing almost identical sentiments in this discussion who are completely earnest in saying so.

          Reply
  16. jury_rigger

    11 years ago

    Good for them, but I’m not sure they’re really competing against anyone for his services

    Reply
  17. Josh Blackfeild

    11 years ago

    Why is everyone making a huge fuss over a pitcher who has a career 4.18 ERA and hasn’t played since 2008? It would make a nice comeback story if he came back, but I don’t see him making an impact on any club.

    Reply
    • zurr en arrh

      11 years ago

      The idea is to not make any impact whatsoever, at best he’s going to replace if anyone on the roster is not fundamentally well to pitch such as Sean Burnett

      Reply
      • RyÅnWKrol

        11 years ago

        Perfect analysis. Blanton and Burnett both are wild cards, Skaggs could either break out or need more time in the minors. This is an insurance policy that could benefit the Angels a great deal.

        Reply
  18. troche565

    11 years ago

    Maybe a long look in spring training for any team interested may be what would be needed. The very long inactivity due to injuries plus his age may be deciding factors for any team to pass and move elsewhere for their pitching needs. However, if he has reinvented himself as a pitcher with some novelty pitch like a knuckle ball then who knows, 36 is not old for a good knuckle baller. Will see.

    Reply
  19. Downing was safe!

    11 years ago

    Tanaka, Tanaka, Tanaka!

    Reply
  20. bjsguess

    11 years ago

    This might be the worst thread I’ve ever seen on MLBTradeRumors. Let me break this down into the simplest terms I know how:

    1. The Angels are not depending on Mulder to do anything. They know that the odds are stacked against him to succeed. If signed, his most likely outcome is not to contribute to the big league team.
    2. This deal will not in ANY way impact their ability to sign Garza/Tanaka/Jiminez, etc. The dollars for this deal will be tiny and most likely incentive based. The Angels do not need to sign another starter, period. They already have Weaver, Wilson, Skaggs, Santiago, Richards, and Blanton who can all start. Another pitcher would be nice though.
    3. If Mulder ends up costing the team more than a few million that will be a GOOD thing. That means that he is pitching the major leagues and contributing value. You don’t have to pitch much or be very good to return a few million dollars worth of value.
    4. This deal is not a desperation move. These kinds of low risk moves are made by clubs every year. 95% of the time they don’t turn out. Every once in awhile they do (See Bartolo Colon and Scott Kazmir). If you would like proof please post your team and I’ll happily dig up long shot signings by your favorite team over the past 5 years.

    Reply
    • zurr en arrh

      11 years ago

      I have ton agree. The problem with this thread was that it was lead to believed that Angels actually signed this guy a major league contract; that this was the impact arm the Angels were looking for instead of Garza or Tanaka. This lead to believe that DiPoto signed another Joe Blanton.

      But it was as I expected to be, a minor league deal. Signing this guy to a minor league deal is no real problem no matter how long ago he pitched and how bad he is. He is at best a replacement level pitcher for either Blanton who is really bad or really the only lefty in the bullpen, Burnett, who’s health is questionable. It’s a low risk high reward as everyone said. If he’s bad, well he tried; and by any stroke of luck that he’s good, well then the Angels just found a diamond in the rough.

      Reply
  21. Lefty_Orioles_Fan

    11 years ago

    Hey, I am as curious as the next fan to see if Mark Mulder can still pitch even though it’s been 8 to 9 years since he’s done anything.
    I know Jim Palmer tried to come back years after he retired, it was short lived.
    So this should be interesting.

    Reply
  22. Fleer Carll

    11 years ago

    This isn’t as bad as when Garth Brooks went to spring training with the Padres.

    Reply
  23. 0vercast

    11 years ago

    If it’s a minor-league deal full of incentives, what’s the harm in it?

    If he reaches those incentives and gets paid, that means he earned it.

    If he doesn’t reach them and the team is forced to waste a few bucks, it’s like a millionaire losing some pocket change in an old sofa.

    This is an ultra-low risk with low-to-moderate upside, which makes it a fairly good gamble. I’d like to see the Twins give him a shot, much like they did with Rich Harden last year.

    Reply
    • Spit Ball

      11 years ago

      Overcast I love you! Many on this page speak English. Yet you are bilingual…….speaking English and reason.

      Reply
      • 0vercast

        11 years ago

        Thanks, Shane. That’s clever.

        I look at FA signings like a gambler. Though I’m not a gambler in real life, I can spot a good FA gamble when I see one. If Mulder succeeds, which we likely won’t, he’ll be like a pennies-on-the-dollar version of Jason Vargas or Scott Kazmir, who’s going rate is upwards of $8MM a year nowadays. If you have roster space, why not take a shot?

        Reply
  24. Nicholas Koch

    11 years ago

    Yankees have to be in this mix…. After all he is over 35… He cant be worse then Hughes was

    Reply
  25. Dodgers.714

    11 years ago

    All the angels fans thinking they will get tanaka lol… He is signing with dodgers or maybe Yankees . That’s it. One or the other

    Reply
    • bjsguess

      11 years ago

      Why is it LOL? Please share with us your special insider information that Tanaka will only go to the Yankees or Dodgers. I’m sure others would love to know your connections to Close and Tanaka’s family. They are pretty much the only people who “know” what Tanaka is thinking right now.

      And despite your obvious bias, the Dodgers are not some dream destination. Believe it or not, following the Yankees playbook but not getting their results won’t appeal to everyone.

      Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      The Angels are involved as much as any other high market team. That’s not something dreamed up by their fans. Tanaka will sign with the team he feels is the best fit for him. For all we know that could end up being neither the Yankees, Dodgers or Angels. But you have to consider the Angels are owned by a filthy rich multi billionaire who is not afraid to spend big. And he will go over the luxury tax for a player like Tanaka, and will compete with the Yankees and Dodgers in the bidding war. In tes of need, the Yankees are the most likely destination because the a Dodgers already have a deep rotation, and the Angels got the young controllable starting pitching they’ve been looking for, with an eye on Matt Garza to add to that in addition. The Yankees don’t have much to brag about in the back end of their rotation at all. So that mixed with NY’s need to keep marquee players on the field to keep their fan base in the seats could give the Yankees an edge over everyone.

      Reply
  26. JoeSeadog 2

    11 years ago

    Of pitchers who get the bug to throw again, Mulder may be one who has a chance. After arm problems, he’s said to be reaching 92 on the gun, and we know he’s a smart pitcher. So, that two pluses. But, command will come slow, arm slot may revert to what his body knows, and got him hurt. Also in the best case scenario, 100-125 innings and he will be done for the year as his whole body will respond to the rigors of pitching and not be ready for the long haul in a short time. I wish him well, for sure.

    Reply
  27. Dawson Carlson

    11 years ago

    I could really see Mulder being 2014’s Kazmir. I don’t understand the hate.

    Reply
    • Spit Ball

      11 years ago

      Oh yeah 36 year olds always come back with nasty stuff after last pitching in even a respectable manner at 27…. in 2005. Look at the stats from 06-08. They are horrible! Oh by the way he is on the HOF ballot this year. Best of luck to him but their is a difference between hate and reality. Kazmir is younger, had a shorter layoff and never had a Tommy John surgeon tell him his left arm no longer had a pulse.

      Reply
    • RyÅnWKrol

      11 years ago

      That’s a bit of a stretch, but I think if Mulder signs and makes their squad it would likely be as an additional lefty in the bullpen, and perhaps as a spot starter. Sad to say, but I’d actually put him above Joe Blanton on the Angels’ SP depth chart.

      Reply
  28. mattt-3

    11 years ago

    Anyone have any comps to look at? I can’t think of anyone taking that much time off and coming back, although it seems likely it’s happened.

    My first thought was Andy Benes, but when I looked it up, he apparently was only retired for like 9 months when the Cardinals brought him back, so that’s a pretty horrible comparison, obviously.

    Reply

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