From 2002-04 the Los Angeles Dodgers had one of the most dominant closers of all-time in Eric Gagne. He converted a Major-League record 84 consecutive saves during the three-year stretch.
Gagne last pitched in a Major League game for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, but nearly a decade later, the 41-year-old is attempting to make a comeback. He was present at the Dodgers Spring Training facility this year as a pitching instructor, and used the opportunity throw multiple bullpen sessions and simulated games.
In addition to throwing for scouts and executives, Gagne was preparing to represent his native Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Gagne recently said he is focused on signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers. While that may hold true, a more recent update didn’t have the sides close to agreeing to a deal, via Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
Eric Gagne is hopeful to sign a deal with the Dodgers, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson Smith reports. As of Wednesday, though, nothing was close.
Over parts of eight seasons with the Dodgers, Gagne recorded 161 saves with a 3.27 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. He was a three-time All-Star from 2002-04, and won the 2003 National League Cy Young Award when he converted all 55 save opportunities while sporting a minuscule 1.10 ERA.
In his career, Gagne recorded 187 saves and yielded a 3.47 ERA in 10 Major League seasons with the Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and Brewers.
He threw 2.1 scoreless innings in a lone WBC outing, allowing just one hit while striking out two and walking one. Gagne’s fastball sat in the low 90s but reached as high as 94 mph, with a changeup looking as comparable to when he closed out games for the Dodgers.
