The New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies all are making a push to sign relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Multiple teams have made offers to the two-time American League Star, though those five teams are reportedly the favorite to land him.
Heyman names the Tigers as the most logical fit for Hanraham. Reliever Bruce Rondon is out for the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and the team needs another pitcher to team up with Joe Nathan at the back end of the bullpen.
Similarly, the Yankees would like to solidify the back end of their pen as the team continues to try and compensate for the retirement of Mariano Rivera. The Rex Sox and Rockies are both in the market for relief pitching, while the Rangers’ pitching staff has been swarmed by injuries. Pedro Figueroa, Tanner Scheppers, Joe Saunders, Derek Holland and Joseph Ortiz are among the hurlers currently on the disabled list.
Hanrahan, 32, is about a year removed from undergoing Tommy John surgery. In a tryout for a number of MLB clubs, he reportedly looked close to being game-ready. Hanrahan reached speeds up to 93 mph and is believed to be in good shape, per CBS Sports.
The last we saw of Hanrahan, he suffered an elbow injury as a member of the Red Sox. That was a year removed from being named to the All-Star squad in 2011-12 as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. That year, he earned 76 saves for the Bucs. Hanrahan owns a career mark of 22-18 with 100 saves and a 3.85 ERA.
