Former MLB star Rafael Palmeiro, who left the game in disgrace after testing positive for steroids back in 2005, tells Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that he is seriously contemplating an effort to return to the majors. Of course, there are quite a few barriers for the left-handed-hitting first baseman, who is a dozen years removed from his playing days and is now 53 years of age.
It’s frankly hard to imagine how this concept could come to fruition. Any player of his age would make for an unlikely big leaguer: in the modern era, only Minnie Minoso has appeared past fifty years of age, and that was a promotional/honorary stunt. The ageless Julio Franco played at the relatively tender age of 49, though he wasn’t able to produce.
Palmeiro’s highly controversial past adds yet more obstacles; notably, he still has not admitted to intentionally using steroids to aid his performance, though he does acknowledge a positive test. And it’s also not quite clear what course he could take even if teams might be willing to look past the steroid cloud. Per Rosenthal, Palmeiro “does not sound willing to take any sort of indirect path to the majors.” Yet Rosenthal also cites one GM that suggests Palmeiro would need to show he can still hit in a stint outside of the affiliated ranks before he’d be considered.
As might be expected, Palmeiro says he’s in good shape and feels his body is up to the task. But that doesn’t lend much credence to the undertaking in and of itself. If there’s a hint of plausibility here, perhaps it’s in the comments from Orioles VP of baseball operations Dan Duquette, who says “it would be an interesting story” and would not dismiss the possibility of giving Palmeiro — a former Baltimore star — a shot at a return. That’s hardly a clear indication of interest, of course, but does suggest there are at least some teams (including the one Palmeiro played for when he was suspended) that would entertain the possibility.
Ultimately, we’ll just have to sit back and see whether there’s a way for Raffy to make good on his intentions. Those with interest in weighing the likelihood will want to give Rosenthal’s lengthy piece a look; it contains plenty of quotes from Palmeiro and his family members.
Roided down 50 year old body
Roids or not he was still a great player. Same with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire and many others.
And all are complete losers who’ve disgraced the game.
And I LOVED Palmiero….even back in his Cubs days. Ended up being a complete loser. Highly disappointing
He’s in the gym with me right now. Definitely now on roids anymore. But he is in extremely great shape. He’s working out daily
Thanks Ruben Sierra!
Uuuggghhhh
The only member of the 3k/ 500 clubs not to make the hall
Due to roids
That might be a reason for the comeback. It would put him back on the HOF ballot for another try now that the steroid stigma seems to be falling away. Ivan Rodriguez got in and Bonds and Clemens both seem poised to get in. If Raffy plays one game, he would get another 10 years on the ballot if he maintained 5%, which is very likely now.
Ivan was suspected bc of his longevity at catcher but he never tested positive
Bonds and Clemens shouldnt get in
At this point, due to the fact that there wasn’t a rule to enforce (only stigma to impress), I think it’s totally reasonable to let Bonds, Clemens, whoever into the Hall of Fame if they get the votes. They are still part of the history that is the game of baseball. Like it’s been said before, give ’em a footnote and move on.
While I dislike both Bonds and Clemens, neither of them failed a test. Does it mean they weren’t dirty? No. But let’s face it they were 2 of the very best in their generation. I think they are hall of fame caliber players. Same with Palmerio.
They are allowed in. They just haven’t been voted in.
Ivan was suspected because his association with the biggest cheat, fingers pointed at him specifically, his build changing over time and subsequently dropping a ton of weight when the heat was on.
Almost every player in that era should have suspicion. I’d put Piazza, Biggio, Bagwell, even Griffey Jr. on my list of “probably did roids”.
They’re all in the hof.
Put them all in, and put an asterisk on their plaque that indicates if the player tested positive for PEDs.
Frank Thomas too
Can you point out the positive steroid tests for Bonds, Clemens and Pudge? Thanks. I’ll wait.
“Can you point out the positive steroid tests for Bonds, Clemens and Pudge?”…Nope. Can you point to one for A-Rod or Giambi. Both admitted to using and getting away with it because it was ridiculously easy to beat the tests then. Using a 4:1 T to E as a basis was insane.
So, can you point to a positive test for Bonds, Clemens or Pudge? I’ll wait.
You point is moot based on history, common sense, the Mitchell report, etc and you know it. Have a nice evening.
He merely rubbed flaxseed oil on his joints which is why his crony went to federal prison instead of telling on Barry.
Thought for sure Jamie Moyer made it to 50, but his last season was at 49. I kind of hope this happens just because it would be neat to see.
I think Ricky Henderson played into his mid forties.
I know he has his detractors (and rightfully so) but Palmiero had a sweet swing even in his days at Mississippi State.
He would’ve been Mark Grace instead.
Will it reset his hall of fame clock?
I believe it does
Forget the clock, does it negate the fact that he fell below the needed percentage to stay on the ballot. He didn’t time out, he fell below the needed votes to stay on the ballot after, I believe, e years. I always thought he should have had as much of a chance as Bonds, A-Rod, etc, but I’m not sure I like the idea of being able to circumvent being voted off the ballot by making a comeback either.
*i believe after 3 years.
Didn’t proofread.
He’ll still get back on. Jose Rijo did even get a single vote his first try and was put back on the ballot after a comeback.
Yes it does and I think that’s why he is doing it. If other known roid users get in within the next few years like Bonds, Clemens, he would have a better chance. I hope not but that’s just me, I don’t think people should be rewarded for cheating.
they didn’t cheat technically- there were no rules regarding steroid use in baseball when any of them did it. You can argue that you feel it is unfair or unethical but it was never cheating.
“they didn’t cheat technically- there were no rules regarding steroid use in baseball when any of them did it. ”
There wasn’t testing but the did cheat…Steroids have been banned since June 1991.
Yeah gotta agree, they didn’t cheat and Raffe was a great hitter… should not have lied to congress thou, poor decision
How is knowingly violating the rules not cheating? You can look it up, roids were banned but rules were ignored. No different than a player using a corked bat and not getting caught. It’s still cheating. Whitewashing it doesn’t change fact.
From a legal perspective, it’s not enough to have a rule written down on a piece of paper, you have to also enforce it. Otherwise, legally, it’s null-and-void.
Lol tell that to General Flynn and the Logan Act violation.
Reflect………..
“Many have asserted that steroids and other performance enhancing substances were not banned in Major League Baseball before the 2002 Basic Agreement. This is not
accurate. Beginning in 1971 and continuing today, Major League Baseball’s drug policy has prohibited the use of any prescription medication without a valid prescription. By implication, this prohibition applied to steroids even before 1991, when Commissioner Fay Vincent first expressly included steroids in baseball’s drug policy. Steroids have been listed as a prohibited substance under the Major League Baseball drug policy since then, although no player was disciplined for steroid use before the prohibition was added to the collective bargaining agreement in 2002.”
“It is also inaccurate to assert, as some have, that baseball’s drug policy was not binding on players before it was added to the collective bargaining agreement.”
George J. Mitchell, Lawyer, Senator and author of the Mitchell Report.
Nobody was enforcing steroid tests therefor it was the wild west when it came to policing it prior to 2004. We can keep pretending guys didn’t juice in that era because they weren’t big or didn’t hit a lot of homers but practically everyone was using something because it meant enhancing players talents to make more money for the team and yourself.
Wasn’t specifically against MLB rules? That’s an asinine defense when people break the law and cheat the game. BTW homicide or rape aren’t against MLB rules either, guess you’re ok with that too.
Yes it does. Jose Rijo did the same thing several years back. He made a small comeback after falling off the ballot in his first try and then got another chance 5 years later. Of course he was nowhere close to even getting the 5% to stay on the ballot, but he did get a 2nd try regardless.
Just when you thought this offseason couldn’t get any weirder.
Dollars to donuts he is just trying to reset his HOF clock
Thats what Clemens tried to do a few years back. Makes sense. At some point the roiders are going to get in, whether we like it or not
“At some point the roiders are going to get in . . . “
There are already “roiders” in the HoF.
My guess is they already have.. we just don’t know about it!
I remember Jim Palmer attempted a comeback with the O’s when he was 50 or so. I don’t think he made it out of the 2nd week of spring training. Palmeiro’s timing couldn’t be worse considering the glut of first basemen on the open market. smh
Pretty bang-on, but Palmer was 46, not that it makes a huge difference, but at least within the realm of possibility for a post 40 yr old pitcher to try and make a MLB roster. A 50+ position MLB player is like a 72 yr old Palmer continuing to model underwear.
Dude must have found a new roid that hasn’t been able to been traced in testing yet lol
no testing when you are retired. If he is serious about a comeback, you would think he would be smart enough to not have anything illegal in his system. wouldn’t put anything past him though.
Send him to the queens
Oh good, Baltimore will sign him. Good luck with that.
His son is in the Orioles’ system, so there’s the novelty of that at least.
I would like to think they will stay away but maybe he wants to play in a game with Preston Palmeiro
Send him to the pit of misery.
Dilly dilly!
This one’s so easy I can’t think of anything funny to say. Rafael! You’re old! Like really old! Ah I ain’t got nothin 🙁
Is he officially off the hall of fame ballot? If so then wouldn’t playing in just 1 game put him back on the ballot in the future.. possibly when voters will be more sympathetic? That is the only possible reason I can see him wanting to do this.
The Mets will sign him as another minor league sideshow act to sell a couple extra tickets in A ball
But then he’d have to restart his HOF clock… haha
You missed that Satchel Paige pitched 3 scoreless innings for the KC A’s in 1967 against the Boston Red Sox, well passed the age of 60. Like Minnie Minoso it was a promotional stunt (this was the team of Charlie Finley after all), but he should be given his props nonetheless.
I was there…. I believed he also used an orange colored ball.
Yep, and he pitched three scoreless innings, if I recall correctly.
I literally double taked reading the headline. Must of switched from riods to smoking crack or something hahaha
Great, this will be the Orioles top FA signing
Go get him Coppy!
Palmeiro has as much baseball left in him as Coppy has hair on his head.
Wake me up when Orlando Palmeiro lurks back
Midlife crisis in full effect.
Remember last winter when Eric Gagne was looking to make a come back? Who’s going to be 2018-2019’s off season guy who tries to make a comeback, even though he hasn’t played in The MLB for nearly a decade?
Sammy Sosa?
Mark Grudzielanek!
He’s managing the Charlotte Knights. AAA team for the White Sox.
my guess would be canseco, he has continued to play in independent and latin leagues since ‘retiring’. I will say though that I really don’t like him and hope he doesn’t come back.
Maybe Jermaine Dye. It was already questionable (possibly controversial) reasons as to why he wasn’t signed after 2009.
He needs to stay gone. His roid days are long gone. So I say begone and never speak of this again.
McGuire, Canseco, Palmeiro, Bonds, et al. Talking about baggage but steroids were not banned back then and now some are even entertaining the idea of coming back and others are in the Hall of Fame ballots. Joke!
“steroids were not banned back then”
Riods were banned in June 1991 by Fay Vincent. H asked for testing not long after but MLBPA would not agree to it with Donald Fehr citing “violation of player privacy”
Steroids were banned back then! Why do you think there is a stigma attached to all the guys you mentioned in your post
and all their problems getting into the HOF?
This is a joke right?
Will give new meaning to the term “Senior Circuit” won’t it?
Is Bernie Mac going to be his hitting coach?
RIP
Satchel Page appeared as a pitcher in his 50’s at least 2 decades before Minnie Minoso tuned 50,
Juicer.
Forget it. At 53 and removed from the game for 12 years, and, today’s upper 90s fastballs, will each by itself make him look silly at the plate.
Sounds like somebody ran out of money.
Yup, who’s next? Joe Orsulak. Orsulak was one of my favorites and if I recall may have had the first Oriole hit at Camden Yards
Man, Rosenthal is hardup for some news.
Even though it’s highly unlikely he’ll succeed, I’m rooting for him. We live in a different world today and are in a different cultural landscape. In retrospect, I do believe that there was discrimination involved in blacklisting him from the game and am surprised he didn’t pursue it more vigorously like Kaepernick is doing today with the NFL colluding against him.
Baseball has colluded multiple times before. It is nothing new. Proving it beyond the shadow of a doubt is another issue. So many tend to criticize the integrity of others when they themselves have integrity issues too (just of a different sort).
Defying all odds is an understatement
Jokes aside, since we’ve all made the same one about his HOF clock (me included), but Palmeiro is one of the steroids guys that the committee actually got right.
Too often, we look into the historical context of a player’s numbers while ignoring the significance he had during his own era. To me, that’s a terrible way to view HOF worthiness because it ignores a number of factors that differ between eras. These factors can include steroid usage, expansion, quality of teams/players, ballpark size, and – in 2017 – even the integrity of the baseball!
Take Ryne Sandberg for example. He’s a guy who was an easy HOF selection because we all knew he was one of the premier players of his era. He was a guy who finished top-20 in MVP voting 6 times, finished top-5 three of those times, and won one of them. He played in 10 All-Star Games. And even if you want to discount his 9 Gold Gloves (most do), he’s still the guy who defined what it meant to be a second baseman for the better part of a decade.
But if we just compared his numbers to guys from today, I could convince you that Daniel Murphy has a spot waiting for him in Cooperstown. Murphy averages a few less home runs than Sandberg did over his career, but given that Murphy has produced the two highest home run totals of his career over the past two seasons, it’s not hard to see that number rising to the level of Sandberg. Murphy also has a higher career batting average, OPS, OPS+, and wRC+
So if all we do is look at numbers in a historical context, then how do you keep Murphy from the HOF? Easy… you compare him against his own contemporaries. When you do that, you see that he’s only played in 3 ASG’s. He’s only recieved MVP votes in two seasons and has never won one. His 7-year peak WAR (which is the biggest number that compares him against players in his own era) is a meager 17.2 (Sandberg’s was 46.8).
So really, it’s only IF we look at a player’s value relative to his own era that you can make the obvious case that Murphy isn’t HOF worthy.
The same applies to Palmeiro. His numbers are off the chart. But a lot of guys in his era had numbers that were just as – or even more – historically great than Palmeiro’s. Guys like Bonds and Griffey come to mind first, but there were a ton of 1B who put up even better numbers during that era. That’s why he made just four ASGs in 20 years. It’s why he only once finished in the top-5 for MVP voting. It’s why his 7-year peak WAR is below HOF standards. Hell, his 7-year peak WAR was less than Frank Thomas, Jeff Bagwell, Mark McGwire, Todd Helton, Keith Hernandez, and Jim Thome – just to name a few. His 7-year peak WAR was actually closer to non-HOF guys like Fred McGriff, Will Clark, and Don Mattingly. There are guys that have yet to make the HOF (some who likely won’t) that were relatively better during that era than Palmeiro was. And the guys he comped closed with in his own era have almost no shot.
Now, I’m not saying that we should completely ignore a player’s historical significance when discussing his HOF credentials. But I do believe that for a player’s historical significance to be judged, he must first pass the test against his own contemporaries. With Palmeiro, he failed that first test.
I’ll pretty much agree with your comments about comparing them to contemporaries. I personally also like to compare them to those who historically played the same position (rightfielders to rightfielders for example). This is done through career WAR, 7 year peak WAR, and through JAWS (and I know not everyone is fond of those stats). I’m not convinced that “magic numbers” mean as much as some give them credit for. While certainly an achievement 500 homers (for example) means more for some players than it does for others.
I don’t think Palmiero is a Hall of Famer in my book.
Far from inept. Well done.
Wait, what? I think this post is beyond absurd. RP shouldn’t be in the HOF because he is a cheater and a lair like Bonds and Mac. But to try to argue that based on numbers he shouldn’t be in is crazy.. Even taking into account his ear, his numbers are great. Look at the HOF. Lots of guys who were great but not in that upper level even during thier career. It happens in every era. George Davis and Vic Willis from the dead ball era, Jessie Haines and Ted Lyons in the 30’s, Doerr and Maz in the 50’s/60’s it goes way on. His numbers are great.
Mac doesn’t deserve to be in the HoF because he was a one trick pony, with that one trick being powered by PEDs.
he does look like jaromir jagr
is anyone going to acknowledge the fact that he passed a polygraph test stating that he did not knowingly use steroids?
So?
I’m not one of those conspiracy nuts but I always wondered what if he was the poster boy of it all and set up? What better guy than the man defiantly wagging his finger and proclaiming his innocence? Every other player pissed hot and were suspended ASAP, and they were told they could appeal it and if they won they’d get their pay back for the time away. Palmiero pissed hot and they held off on the results long enough to let him reach his 500/3000 milestones and then banish him never to be heard from again.
Orioles
Easy, Al Bundy
Tebow would be a better hitter than Palmeiro at this point.
Maybe Michael Jordan will comeback to basketball too and drop 70 points on these defenseless teams too!
I believe he’s lying.
The Rangers should sign him.
How much you whanna bet I can throw a football over them mountains?! – Uncle Rico
Move on man, it’s over. Just play Sunday league if you miss the game.
Nothing says “I never took steroids” like successfully playing in the Majors at 53 years old.
@ABL
Australian Baseball League currently has Delmon Young.
We actually had Ronald Acuna, Didi Gregorious, Kevin Kiermaier, Keon Broxton, Rhys Hoskins come through in the last 2-3 years.
He would be a good draw card and you never know….? I tweeted Jose Canseco a few times but no response. But he put me onto a great financial planner haha.
Finally my buddies can stop making fun of me for keeping him on my roster in my dynasty league
I bet the white sox sign palmero as a publicity stunt. you know how kenny williams is, always trying to sign over the hill free agents.
I’d rather see Bonds come back and DH to be honest. It would be cool seeing him as a 53 year old still walking 100 times and hitting the occasional homer.
In all the articles I,’ve read about Ohtani there has never been a word about winning being one of his top priorities. Good article from Japanese Times There are teams in the 7 that might be there simply because of a past good turn done by the team for Ohtani or a long relationship (Cubs, Rangers, Padres)
japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/05/baseball/mlb/sh…
Raffy is a complete douche.. That being said the man has over 3000 hits and a lifetime OBP of .371.. I don’t care how many roids you take none of it is going to make you a complete hitter like Palmeiro.. His career took a normal trajectory towards the end and he was out of baseball by 40.. If he had not made such a public spectacle of himself I am sure he would be already in the HOF and would be one of those players that are heavily debated whether they took roids or not.. I think I hold a different opinion than most on the steroid age.. Over half of the players of the time were juicing.. I have to ask the question: Is it cheating when the pitcher and most of the defense are on steroids too? I just don’t see the advantage a player would have if the competition is doing the exact same thing he is. I have read that roids were mainly used to extend careers which I don’t see having happened to Palmeiro.. His last 2 years he only hit 23 and 18 HR’s respectively and offensively his best weapon seems to have been his ability to draw walks.. His WAR from his last 2 years are 0.8 and 0.3. Not exactly the numbers indicative of a career being extended well into his 40’s..
Yes, without the power he would have basically been Mark Grace.. But, lets not forget that Grace was only 555 (2445 good for 117th all time) hits away from 3000 in a 16 year career.. Boggs took 18 years to break 3000 and it took Palmeiro 20.. Comparing Palmeiro to Grace shouldn’t be seen as detrimental to his HOF case.. 3000 hits is still the toughest batting milestone to get outside 2000 RBI’s.. And, Palmeiro is 17th on the all time RBI list..
Palmeiro should have been a first ballot hall of famer.. Even if he is one of the biggest douche bags to ever play the game.. Hitting the ball to all fields, drawing walks, and having a well defined all around game are not things that can be attributed to steroids.. Take away his home runs and he is still a solid Hall candidate..
Steriods help the bat speed which helps the average too. Raffy is a disgrace and a joke. How the heck can you call him a hall of famer
JKB…to your point Google the studies papers by Physicist Roger Tobin and later Alan M. Nathan. Much like the science in the documentary “fastball” dispelled the myth that some early pitchers like Feller didn’t throw that hard (and proves that Ryan’s famous 100+ was actually 108+MPH) Tobin and Nathan’s work really sheds some light on how much PED’s did help.
Debated if he took roids? His career numbers and how the power took off later on are prime examples of a user. And as for players that were very good to great players before they were caught and should still be considered- BS! That’s more reason why they didn’t need to use and how it should taint everything done in the career for tainting the game. Guys like A-Rod, Manny, Bonds were all great players and could have made it without using, that doesn’t mean we judge them differently and say they would’ve been HoFers anyway.
He is just wanting to get his name back on the HOF ballot. To describe how I feel about this is to quote him, “No comment”!
You know something Swen that did not occur to me but now that you mention it I think you are correct
Go and play in Korea for a year. Prove yourself over there without having to commit to any particular organization and then maybe get an MLB deal when there aren’t 50 1B/DH types on the market.