Should the Brewers take a chance on Scott Kazmir?

Scott Kazmir is trying another comeback at age 36. Should the Milwaukee Brewers kick the tires on Kazmir?

It’s been three years since Scott Kazmir took the mound for a professional baseball team. The now 36-year old left-hander announced that he’s launched another comeback attempt. Would it make sense for the Milwaukee Brewers to offer him a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training?

What happened the last time Kazmir tried a comeback?

Kazmir was out of organized baseball after the 2011 season. He launched a similar comeback attempt that succeeded in 2013, and managed to pitch until 2016.

His last contract with a Major League team was a three-year deal that he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2016 season. He last threw in the Majors in 2016, and worked a few Minor League games in 2017 before hip and neck injuries forced him out of baseball.

Has Kazmir thrown recently?

According to reports, Kazmir spent the winter working with Driveline, and has recovered quite a bit of his velocity. He’s still throwing his fastball in the low 90’s at age 36.

The last time he was in the Majors, Kazmir averaged 91.4 MPH on his heater.

He may schedule a showcase workout for scouts in the next few weeks if no one offers him a deal.

Is Kazmir a fit for the Brewers?

Well, all Kazmir will cost at this point is an invite to Spring Training, so, yes, he is a fit for the Milwaukee Brewers.

The cost conscious Brewers stayed out of the bidding for any expensive free agents, and only signed Josh Lindblom to a deal that was more than a one-year contract with an option. The team needs veteran options to round out its bullpen, and Kazmir would make more sense as a reliever at this point in his career. He’d be competing with names like Ray Black, Angel Perdomo, and Deolis Guerra for a roster spot.

Offering Kazmir a Minor League deal is essentially a free lottery ticket at this point. If he works out, it’s great. The team gets a competent arm with relatively low cost, and it’s a ‘feel-good’ story that the team can promote. If he flames out in the Spring, the team can simply cut him loose. There aren’t any specific rumors linking the Brewers and Kazmir, but the move would be very low cost and come with a possible reward. That’s the kind of move that GM David Stearns typically likes to make.