The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CLUBHOUSE COMIC MOYLAN IN 3RD STINT WITH BRAVES
Moylan brings laughs to clubhouse as he begins third stint with Braves.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. — When you pitched in as many games as anyone in the major leagues the previous season, it’s easier to laugh about your relatively advanced age. And if you’re Peter Moylan, self-deprecating humor has long been part of your wide-ranging popularity anyway.
So here was Moylan, a 39-yearold Australian reliever and one of the more beloved Braves of the past couple of decades, upon returning for a third stint with the Braves and suiting up Tuesday in the same Champion Stadium clubhouse where he first joined the team in 2006.
“My first locker was actually over there by the toilets,” Moylan said. “Me and Stocky (former Braves reliever Phil Stockman) were right next to each other over there, 57 and 58, right by the toilets. Easy access.”
Asked if it were pretty cool to be back with the Braves, Moylan said. “It is — not pretty cool, really cool. Not much has changed inside except for the players. It’s obviously kids in here that are (young) enough to be my kids. But yeah, the whole place feels great. It feels normal.”
The right-handed sidearmer,
after coming back from two Tommy John surgeries to revive his career with the Royals in 2016, posted a 3.49 ERA and .189 opponents’ average last season with Kansas City in 79 appearances — tied for the major league lead — and had 46 strikeouts in 59⅓ innings. His 1.096 WHIP (walks-plus-hits per inning pitched) was his lowest in a full season since 2007, when Moylan had a 1.067 WHIP as a 28-year-old Braves rookie.
Nevertheless, he waited all winter for a major league contract offer from the Braves, Royals or anyone else. “It kind of played out slowly,” he said. “Unfortunately the game’s trending younger, and I’m trending the other way. But I’m excited — really, really excited — to be here.”
Not until last week did talks advance with the Braves, and the two sides finalized a non-guaranteed major league deal with a $575,000 salary and an escalator that bumps that amount to $1.25 million if Moylan makes the opening-day roster. In other words, if he’s not on the disabled list.
It’s not a guaranteed deal and the salary is for barely more than the major league minimum before the escalator clause. But at least it’s a major league contract, after Moylan had to settle for minor league deals each of the previous three years and force his way onto the roster. And he’s back with the Braves, which had been his desire all along.
“Yes, there was a plan to come to Atlanta. I didn’t know if I was going to be playing or coaching or front office, whatever it was going to be. But I still make my home in Atlanta, and this has always been the organization I want to finish my career with.”
They are glad to have him, particularly those who were around for Moylan’s previous stints with the Braves in 2006-12 and in 2015, when he signed a unique minor league deal to serve as a player-coach while rehabbing from his second Tommy John surgery.
“It’s good to have him back,” said Braves reliever Dan Winkler, who was rehabbing from his own Tommy John surgery in 2015 when Moylan coached pitchers in the first half of the season at Braves minor league headquarters in Florida. “He’ll make you laugh — I mean all day, every day. He’s always got something witty to say. He keeps your mind off of it, and I think that’s the best part about Moylo. He keeps things loose.”
Moylan has a 3.00 ERA in 460 appearances in parts of 11 major league seasons, including 80 appearances with a 1.80 ERA in 90 innings in his first full season with the Braves in 2007 and a career-high 87 appearances in 2009 after missing most of 2008 recovering from his first Tommy John surgery.
As much as he keeps things loose in the clubhouse and the bullpen room, he also sets an example the Braves hope others will follow.
“For some of these relievers, shame on them if they don’t tap (him for information),” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Here’s a guy that all he’s ever done is answer the phone (to the bullpen) and he’s ready to go, he’s ready to pitch. He’s been through about every physical ailment I think that you can. About the time that you think he’s done, he goes out and leads the league in appearances.”
Moylan said he feels great physically, and knows that what he did the past two seasons would’ve been enough to draw multiple major league offers for a typical reliever, but not for one approaching 40 and with his medical history.
“I’m happy to prove myself over and over again,” he said. “It’s good — I’ve been proving people wrong most of my career.”