Hideo Nomo

'CAREER PATHS': May 2005

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Los Angeles Dodgers 1995-98: Nomo became an overnight sensation after joining the Dodgers as a 27-year-old free agent out of Japan. He went 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA (2nd in the NL) in 1995 en route to earning All Star and NL Rookie of the Year honors. The right-hander followed up with another successful season, going 16-11 with a 3.19 ERA in 1996, including a no-hitter at Coors Field on September 17.

By 1997 however, the former Japanese star’s ERA had ballooned to 4.25, and after beginning the 1998 season 2-7, he was dealt to the Mets with Brad Clontz for Greg McMichael and Dave Milicki on June 4.

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New York Mets 1998: In 16 starts with the Mets; Nomo went just 4-5. The following spring, he was unable to crack the teams’ 25 man roster and was released on March 26.

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Milwaukee Brewers 1999: After being property of the Chicago Cubs from April 2-23, Nomo was released without appearing in a major league game. His career looked to be over. The Brewers, in desperate need of pitching, snapped the former All Star off the waiver wire on April 29. Nomo resurrected his career in Beer Town, posting a 12-8 record for the last place club. A free agent following the season, Nomo turned down a two year, $8 million offer to stay in Milwaukee.

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Detroit Tigers 2000: After not finding a long-term, lucrative contract elsewhere, Nomo swallowed his pride and signed a one year, $1 million deal with Detroit. He went just 8-12 with a 4.77 ERA in his lone season as a Tiger. A free agent following the season, he inked a one year, $4.5 million deal with Boston.

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Boston Red Sox 2001: Nomo began his stint in Boston in grand fashion, hurling a no-hitter in Baltimore on April 4, his first start of the season. He performed solidly for the team, going 13-10 with a 4.50 ERA. Once again a free agent after the season, Nomo inked a 3 year contract worth roughly $20 million to return to Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles Dodgers 2002-04: Nomo began his second stint as a Dodger as the team’s most consistent pitcher, going 16-6 with a 3.39 ERA in 2002 and following that up with a 16-13, 3.09 ERA season in 2003. 2004 however, was a disaster. After undergoing shoulder surgery during the off-season, the Japanese native posted a miserable 4-11 record with an unthinkable 8.25 ERA (the highest ever for a pitcher with at least 15 decisions in a season) in 18 starts.

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Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2005: Coming off his worst season, Nomo found little interest in the free agent market. He ended up inking a minor league contract worth $800,000 with an additional $700,000 in possible performance bonuses.

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