El Duque wants to close

Seriously.

Orlando Hernandez is a free agent, hasn't appeared in a major league game since Sept. 30, 2007, but he wants to keep pitching in 2009. And not only does he want to pitch, he wants to close.

You read that right. El Duque, the closer. He'll blow that 55 mph pitch right on by you in the 9th inning!

From Ken Davidoff:

Meanwhile, Genske said that another client of his, Orlando Hernandez, wants to keep pitching, after missing the entire season with the Mets. El Duque underwent surgery on his right foot in September and is rehabilitating.

Said Genske: "He wants to be a closer. He's ready to go." Closing might be a stretch, but certainly there are teams out there that would try him as a reliever. Shoot, the Mets should consider it. They should just pay him $600,000 (with incentives) instead of $6 million.

I have no words.

The Mets do need a closer, though...

Just kidding!