MLB: Four Potential Comeback Pitchers

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With the MLB season entering its third week, there is not much available in free agency. However, these pitchers looking to make their comeback may be able to entice a team looking for a midseason reclamation project.

Despite the fact that we are just 2 weeks into the season, teams are already re-evaluating the original assessments of their team and looking to fix the problems they see, especially those that are related to pitching. Despite coaches looking to find crafty and in-house ways to fix these problems, sometimes that is just not a viable solution. They will have to look elsewhere and that means they can only do three things: 1. Promote a Prospect, 2. Make a Trade, or 3. Search the Free Agent Market.

Compiled on this list are 4 free agent pitchers that are relatively low risk-high reward for anyone that can nab them at the right price.

Next: Johan Santana

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Johan Santana (Last Major League Team- New York Mets 2012)

Johan Santana is attempting a comeback after two failed attempts with the Blue Jays and Orioles. Santana has not pitched in a major league game since 2012, when he had a 6-9 record with 22 starts and a 4.85 ERA. However let’s not forget his historic no-hitter, the first and only in New York Mets history in which he threw 134 pitches.

According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) Santana is gunning for a midseason comeback with a familiar team. As Santana has only played in the Majors with 2 teams, the Twins and the Mets, it seems likely that these are the most “comfortable” teams for him. With the bottom feeder Twins unlikely to make it to the postseason, it is doubtful he would look to join a losing team, leaving the Mets as his probable favorite.

With the Mets already loaded with their starting rotation, it seems very likely he would be a bullpen guy, which he says he’s fine with. However, the Mets already have 2 Lefty Relievers, so a return to New York is doubtful. The Twins have 2 Eligible Lefties in the Pen, but only 1 in the starting rotation. If Santana is serious about a return, he might have to consider the Twins and possibly unfamiliar teams as viable options.

Possible Landing Spots: Although his prospects look bleak right now, he could impress with a showcase and land with a team that is desperately in need of a pitcher. I’d say the Twins, Brewers and Braves are the only teams willing to even consider him at this point.

Next: Brian Wilson

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Brian Wilson (Last Major League team- Los Angeles Dodgers 2014)

fter sitting out 2015 with no interest from any MLB teams, Brian Wilson is making a comeback per Tim Brown (@TBrownYahoo). In a stretch from 2009-2011, Wilson was the best closer in baseball, making the phrase “Fear the Beard” actually mean something. However he then missed most of 2012 and 2013 rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery, and was then released by the Dodgers in 2014. In his last season, he played in 61 games (which was actually his most since 2010) and had a 4.66 ERA which is pretty horrendous for a relief pitcher.

Unlike with other players on this list, a loss of velocity on his pitches was not what killed Brian Wilson’s career. Actually, he stayed pretty consistent throughout his career, with his velocity staying mostly in the 93-96 range. However it was everything else that suffered. In every major stat category, he was at the worst of his career, with terrible walk and K/BB ratios.

So far though, Wilson has stayed very quiet about his comeback. This could be good for him, as added publicity is not what he needs right now. Another thing that makes him different from other players on this list: I believe that he can actually make a comeback. While you can correct and work on loss of velocity, it is extremely hard to do so with a body that has had tons of wear and tear over the years. However being a relief pitcher has limited the amount of pitches Wilson has thrown, which makes me optimistic about his arm strength, evident by the relative consistency of his fastball. All he needs to do is iron out his mechanics and mental game, and if he does that, I think that he is primed to succeed in 2016 and the years following.

Possible Landing Spots: As I previously stated I believe he can do well in the major leagues again, however I don’t think many MLB teams agree with me right now. He could go to a team with a seasoned reliever to bail him out if his comeback goes awry, so the Rockies, the Reds or the Diamondbacks seem like the best bet right now.

Next: Mark Buehrle

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Mark Buehrle (Last Major League Team- Toronto Blue Jays 2015)

Mark Buehrle is consistent. Very, very consistent. In 2015, he missed the 200 inning mark for the first time since his first full major league season 15 years ago. After being left off of a postseason roster spot in 2015, he has stayed very quiet throughout the offseason and into the new season. Many people speculated that he would retire following 2015, but he did not firmly announce if he would play or bow out despite receiving multiple offers in the 1 year- 15 million dollar range. The veteran workhorse had a 15-8 record last year in 32 games which is very characteristic of him, yet has not announced formal plans on what he is doing so far.

Buehrle is getting on in years, and hasn’t pitched with plus velocity since George W. Bush was president. It seems as if every year he is predicted to retire, yet he always seems to find a way to notch around 30 games a season. However unless he is paid up to the high $20 or low $30 millions, I don’t believe that he will play again.

Buehrle would be a perfect player on a contender without a great rotation, such as the Orioles or Red Sox. With either of those two teams, he would be able to be a solid starter who could keep a game close enough for your bats to win. However, it seems that this comeback will be short lived and he will just retire quietly.

Possible Landing Spot: Honestly, he could be a solid pitcher for most teams in the majors right now. As I stated before, he would be helpful on a team is in playoff contention, so the Red Sox, Orioles, Kansas City, Detroit or Toronto (Again).

Next: Tim Lincecum

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Tim Lincecum (Last Major League Team- San Francisco Giants 2015)

I saved the best, and my favorite for last. “The Freak” was one of the most polarizing figures in baseball when he was in his prime. The 4 time All- Star, 3 time World Series Champion, and 2 time Cy Young winner was the best pitcher in baseball from 2009-2011 with a mid 90’s fastball and great junk to complement it, he was nearly unhittable and that showed as he no-hit the Padres twice in two years. However the coming years were not good to Lincecum, as his ERA slowly climbed and his wins started decreasing. Eventually he was let go by the Giants following the 2015 season, which saw him go 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA.

Unlike Brian Wilson, it was loss of velocity that derailed Tim Lincecum’s career. He went from maxing out at 99 in his 4 prime seasons to maxing out at 87 MPH during his last season. This showed in his strikeout numbers, which drastically decreased from the early 2010’s. Lincecum was mostly used as relief pitcher in 2015, and that is basically where the Giants have projected him out at, which led him to pursue other teams as a starter. Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) has been actively following Lincecum’s comeback and has tweeted that up to 20 teams are looking at Tim, including the Padres, and Athletics.

The best piece of news about Lincecum’s comeback so far is that he has started to throw low 90’s during flatground sessions. However, it is very bothering that he keeps pushing back his showcase event, as that coupled with multiple injuries and surgeries does not bode well for a career resurrection. Honestly, I think that even if he does come back healthy, he will be used exclusively as a relief pitcher somewhere. His whiplash motion requires too much sudden and jerky motion that I see it hard for him to consistently throw 90 over more than 3 innings. However I do think that he can come back in that role exclusively and do well.

Next: Bryce Harper or Mike Trout - who's better?

Possible Landing Spot: Like I previously stated, 20 out of 30 teams have been keeping tabs on him, but I think that it will be the Athletics or Padres that land Lincecum in the end.

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