Major League Baseball

Moyer poised for comeback at age 49

Published Jan. 18, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

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The Colorado Rockies have been looking to upgrade their rotation for much of the offseason.

On Wednesday, they signed someone who is older than eight current major-league managers.

Yes, Jamie Moyer — 49 years young — is coming back.

He has agreed to terms with the Rockies on a minor-league contract, including an invitation to big-league spring training. The deal is pending a physical examination.

Moyer would be the oldest pitcher in the majors in nearly four decades; Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm was 49 when he appeared in 16 games for the Dodgers in 1972.

The odds of the left-hander pitching for the Rockies this year may be better than you think. He last pitched in the majors in 2010, when he went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA in 19 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Moyer has thrown for scouts on multiple occasions this offseason in order to demonstrate his health. His fastball was clocked between 81 and 83 miles per hour during one of those sessions — which was typical of his velocity in recent seasons. Observed one talent evaluator: “He looks the same as he always has.”

One executive who has watched Moyer over the years believes he could win as many as 10 games for Colorado this season. “He knows how to win,” the executive said, “and there are a lot of young, impatient hitters in the NL West.”

Moyer is living in San Diego now, which makes Colorado a good geographic fit. Two of the Rockies’ opponents in the National League West — the Padres and Dodgers — play within driving distance of his home.

Moyer is 267-204 with a 4.24 ERA in over 4,000 big-league innings. He ranks between Hall of Famers Bob Feller (266) and Jim Palmer (268) on the all-time wins list.

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