In his final competitive appearance in July, 2008, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Mark Mulder walks off the field, accompanied by a member of the team's medical staff, with discomfort in his left-shoulder.Tom Mihalek/The Associated Press
Mark Mulder will attempt to make his major league comeback with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
According to Mulder's agent, the former Cy Young Award runner-up has signed a minor league contract which includes an invitation to spring training. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports the 36-year-old could earn more than $6-million if he manages to make the squad and fulfills various incentives in the deal.
Mulder, who won 21 games in 2001 as a member of the Oakland A's, has suffered from shoulder problems since 2004. In 2006, he underwent the first surgery on his left rotator cuff which sidelined him for almost the entire year. A second procedure to repair further damage saw him return to the mound in June 2008, this time as a reliever. In what turned out to be his final appearance, he threw 16-pitches, including eight straight balls, in just one inning of work before departing with pain in his shoulder.
Since 2011, Mulder has been working as an analyst with ESPN.
According to a report on MLB.com, Mulder has been working himself back into shape since November and recently had his fastball clocked in the 90 mph range off the mound.
Mulder is expected to battle Joe Blanton, Garrett Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago for a spot in the Angels rotation, that already includes Jered Weaver, a three-time All-Star, and C.J. Wilson.
The Angels have indicated they plan to go after star Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka.