Milwaukee Brewers pitcher and soon-to-be free agent Shaun Marcum says he would welcome a return to the Toronto Blue Jays if the team is interested in his services.
The 30-year-old said there has been no dialogue between him and the Brewers regarding a new contract since the end of the season.
“I never heard anything from Milwaukee, so we will see what happens after the World Series,” Marcum told Jeff Sammut Wednesday on Sportsnet 590 The Fan.
“I was there for two seasons and they hadn’t contacted my agent one time, so to me, that was a sign they didn’t want me to return, which is fine. I understand it’s baseball and a business.
“It’s disappointing in a way, but at the same time there’s always maybe a better opportunity out there for myself and we’ll see what happens.”
This will be the first time in Marcum’s professional career that he will get to test the market and choose where he plays. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2003 amateur draft and was traded to the Brewers after the 2010 season in exchange for Brett Lawrie.
“Some people play to free agency so you can see where you go, so I’m kind of looking forward to this opportunity,” he said.
Marcum told his agent he would like to keep the Brewers as an option because he has enjoyed his time there, but with Milwaukee having a lot of young, quality pitchers coming up through their system, Marcum believes his chances of returning are slim.
Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has said improving his team’s starting rotation is his No. 1 concern heading into the off-season.
Marcum, who started 21 games this season going 7-4 with a 3.70 ERA, said he would be interested in returning to Toronto if Anthopoulos came calling.
“They’re on my list that’s for sure,” he said. “I enjoyed my time there, I loved the city, loved the coaching staff, so it’s definitely a place that I would be interested in.”
Lately there has been talk of the Boston Red Sox being interested in Blue Jays manager John Farrell, but even if Farrell were to leave Toronto, Marcum said it wouldn’t affect his decision whether or not to rejoin the Blue Jays.
“As long as (pitching coach) Bruce Walton, (third base coach and infield instructor) Brian Butterfield, the training staff, those guys are back then the other things I don’t really concern myself with,” he explained. “As a pitcher you work more closely with the pitching coach, bullpen coach, those type of guys than you do the manager anyways.”
The Kansas City, Mo., native added that he has no preference with the geographic location of a franchise or if it’s an American League or National League squad, but wherever he ends up signing, he wants there to be a realistic chance at making the playoffs.
