Right-hander Joe Nelson was a feel-good story in 2008, a journeyman reliever who broke through with the Marlins, producing a 2.00 ERA in 59 games.
Nelson, 35, was less effective with the Rays last season, but the way he sees it, he had only one bad month, posting an 11.17 ERA from May 4 to 27.
Now Nelson is a free agent, and he says the Red Sox, Dodgers and Nationals are among the teams showing interest.
One executive says Nelson lost his confidence and then his command last season, and probably fit best in a spacious National League park.
Nelson, though, points to his numbers before and after his May meltdown – a 2.38 ERA in 10 games before and a 1.40 ERA in 20 games after.
The Rays designated him for assignment on Aug. 1 after signing right-hander Jeff Bennett, and Nelson spent the rest of the season at Class AAA.
“I had a really tough May last year,” he says. “Before and after that I was throwing the ball really well.” — Ken Rosenthal
Fox Sports
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