Free agent reliever Joel Zumaya worked out in front of 50 scouts from 20 different MLB teams last month.
And he clearly made a positive impression.
According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox and Padres are among a group of major league clubs “pushing hard” to sign Zumaya.
The 27-year-old right-hander missed all of the 2011 campaign due to major elbow surgery and hasn’t pitched more than 39 innings in a season since his rookie year in 2006, but reports had him hitting the mid-90s with his fastball in that December workout. He could be a real asset as a middle reliever or setup man if health is finally on his side.
Zumaya boasts a superb 3.05 career ERA and 9.0 career K/9. His fastball averaged 99.3 mph in 2010.
