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Relief Pitcher: Cordero to Pitch for MLB Teams

by Matthew Cerrone on January 6th, 2009 at 11:05 am

Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors says free-agent relief pitcher Chad Cordero ‘is ahead of schedule,’ and will audition for teams this week, according to a baseball source.

During the Winter Meetings in December, Bill Ladson of MLB.com said Cordero intended to meet with the Mets, Cardinals, Rangers, Tigers and D’Backs while in Las Vegas.

In a report from November, Ladson claimed that the Mets, Angels, Rangers and Tigers had shown interest in Cordero, who had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum.

He missed the second half of last season, but is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

“Cordero’s first choice would be to sign with the Angels,” Ladson explained, “because he is from Anaheim and grew up an Angels fan.”  However, he added, “Cordero also wouldn’t mind having a reunion with Mets general manager Omar Minaya.”

The 26–year-old Cordero has yet to finish a season with an ERA above 3.36 in his six-year career, during which he has been successful 83 percent of the time in save opportunities, while striking out 292 batters in 320 innings.