Veteran hurler Edinson Volquez says he’d like to make it back to the MLB mound one last time this season, as MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan was among those to report. Regardless, the 36-year-old says he’ll hang up his spikes at season’s end.
Volquez has been rehabbing an elbow strain for most of the season. That came on the heels of a lengthy absence owing to Tommy John surgery, which cost him the second half of 2017 and all of 2018.
Having come this far, Volquez says, he’d like to get back on the bump. “I don’t want to go out like this,” he says. “If there is a chance, I can do it for two months or two weeks, why not.”
Volquez still has to progress to facing live hitters and embark upon a rehab assignment. While the stakes will be low, given his decision not to continue pitching beyond the present season, he’ll need to show he’s capable of holding up to game action.
Odds are, the Rangers will hang onto Volquez and give him a shot to get back to the majors. He agreed to continue working back in part due to the team’s desire to have him around its young players, and the Texas club may well need some serviceable arms down the stretch. That said, Volquez would make for a somewhat interesting, no-risk depth stash for a contender given his 60-day injured list status.
No matter how things shake out at the end of 2019, Volquez will ride off into the sunset as a proud participant in 14 seasons of MLB action, with over fifteen-hundred innings. There have been ups and downs, and Volquez never fully realized his early potential, but he has turned in some quality campaigns. From an ERA & innings standpoint, he was at his best in 2008 with the Reds (3.21 ERA, 196 IP), 2012 with the Padres (4.14, 182 2/3), 2014 with the Pirates (3.04, 192 2/3), and 2015 with the Royals (3.55, 200 1/3). Through 271 starts and 17 relief appearances at the game’s highest level, Volquez owns a 4.43 ERA with 7.7 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9.
In addition to the aforementioned organizations, Volquez pitched for the Dodgers and Marlins. He’ll begin and end his career with the Texas organization … unless he really finds something at the very tail end of 2019. “Maybe if some team offers $10MM, I might change my mind,” says Volquez. “But I just want to come back this year and prove it to myself. I want to go out the front door. I don’t want to go out the back door.”
That’s what she said
He’s all about the “front door” apparently lol
He wouldn’t like prison it seems….
Who likes getting raped in prison?
The Pirates should bring back Volquez and give him a start.
Then again, at this point, the Pirates should bring back Wandy Rodriguez, Paul Maholm and Kris Benson, too. Their starting pitching has been dark humor the past week or so.
Jason Bay could give them a boost too
“Ian Snell is on line 1”
And come to think of it, Zack Duke is now a free agent. They can get the gang back together!”
“Mr Volquez? Mike Rizzo on line 3.”
He helped the Royals to a WS win so I’ll always be a fan. Good luck.
Do you think he belongs in hall of fame or no
Not until Tom Gorzelanny is enshrined first
unanimous on the first ballot
No, but he had a few good years.
This was a joke, right? It’s hard to tell online sometimes.
Not unless he buys a ticket first.
No, but he had a few good years.
Never ballot.
Did Volquez toss a no hitter?
He did have wicked stuff years ago. He was wild at times, and great at times.
He had a no hitter few years back. I think it was with the Marlins.
The article doesn’t mention that he threw a no hitter.
Maybe he can go back to being Julio Reyes again.
test
Texas will do the classy thing and give him an appearance in late September once rosters have expanded and they are eliminated.
And I’ll applaud them for doing so.
When Edinson was dealing, he was dealing. Always enjoyed watching him pitch and hope he gets at least one more start in the bigs. He deserves it.
The only team to give a rehabbing pitcher $10 million would be the angels
When someone play more than 10 years is a bless buena suerte Volquez