*** UPDATE ***
Gagne is back. He has signed a minor league contract and will fight for a spot on the big league roster. He'll earn $500,000 if he makes the majors, and has an out clause if he doesn't.
The Dodgers have a history of reclamation projects for pitchers, so let's hope this is the latest example.
***
An old face wants to make a comeback with the boys in blue.
Eric Gagne has recently expressed a desire to be a Dodger again. He hasn't played since being released from the Brewers in Spring Training last year.
It's no secret that he's the best closer in the history of the Dodgers. His numbers from 2002-2004 are just absolutely sick. He had 52, 55, and 45 saves (152 total) while only blowing six. He set an all-time MLB record with 84 straight converted during that stretch. He was also an All-Star all three years and the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner.
Then... it all went downhill. Elbow and back injuries derailed his 2005 and 2006 seasons, making only 16 appearances for nine saves. He then left the Dodgers for Texas in 2007 as a free agent.
Oh, and there's that whole steroid thing. Not surprisingly, he was one of the key players on the Mitchell Report in 2007. So that pretty much tainted his whole legacy.
His last two stops in Boston (traded during the '07 season) and Milwaukee ('08) were complete disasters, as he failed to regain any of the momentum he once had.
So the questions is, What kind of an impact can he have? He pitched in some no-name independent league in 2009, putting up a 4.65 ERA as a starter. The Dodgers are loaded in the bullpen, so he'd have to take a minor league contract.
Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman seems to think the Dodgers are where he'll likely end up, but the Rockies are close as well. He did throw for the Rockies recently, but it wasn't described as being anything impressive.
Part of me would like to see Gagne come back and make a contribution, but I'd be very surprised if that happened. We shall see.
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