It’s been a tough few years for reliever Joel Zumaya.
While with the Tigers, the flame throwing right-hander has suffered just about every type of arm injury a pitcher can endure in the Major Leagues.
After not pitching for the Tigers since 2010 and heading into free agency, Zumaya seems to be coming to terms that he may not get another shot with the Tigers and that he may have to start fresh with another team.
“I think it’s best for me that I can start somewhere new,” Zumaya told MLB.com in a phone interview Wednesday evening.
According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck, in two weeks Zumaya is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in Houston for about 10 MLB teams. One of these teams is expected to be the Boston Red Sox who Zumaya said expressed interest as soon as he became a free agent.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski mentioned that he would be interested in bringing Zumaya back on minor league deal.
“I think we’d be open to have him back,” Dombrowski said at the time, “but with the situation of the uncertainties and what’s taken place, we’re more in a role where that would be most likely as an invite type of guy.”
The Tigers in all aspects have moved on from Zumaya who was thought to be a setup or closer at the Major League level. Detroit eventually filled the back end of their bullpen with guys like Jose Valverde, Joaquin Benoit, Phil Coke and Al Alburquerque. However, given that Zumaya is still relatively young and has plenty of talent his belief is that he can obtain a major league contract with another team.
Still, Zumaya has nothing but good feelings towards his second home of sorts in Detroit.
“I gave everything I could to Detroit,” Zumaya said. “I know Dave still wants to invite me back to Spring Training, but I just feel like I need to start somewhere new. [But] I love that city, man. There’s something about Detroit. It’s weird, but when I’m there I feel I’m around my family, and my family’s 3,000 miles away. That’s how I feel about Detroit.”
Ref: MLB.com