Phil Niekro, less than three months shy of his 56th birthday, is ready for a major-league comeback.
At least one team may be ready for it too.
The former Atlanta Braves knuckleballer said he was contacted by a National League club recently to discuss his availability as a potential replacement player.
“There’s a lot of possibilities in life. I’ve never looked at the age factor. They did,” Niekro said Wednesday. “With a knuckleballer, it’s completely different than in power pitchers. I throw a knuckleball at the same speed I did 20 years ago. It still dances.”
Niekro retired after the 1987 season with a 318-274 record. He spent 18 of his 22 major-league seasons with the Braves.
“I would certainly listen, see what’s available and what the deal is,” Niekro said. “My arm feels better now than it has in 10 years.”
Niekro would not name the team he has talked with, saying only it is an NL team and that he had been asked if he and his brother Joe, 50, also a former major-league pitcher, were interested in playing.
Niekro managed the Colorado Silver Bullets, the women’s professional team, last season. Joe Niekro was the pitching coach. Both have said they would return for another season.
