Forgotten Rays right-hander Jeff Niemann, who elected free agency earlier this week after being dropped from the 40-man roster, is open to signing a new deal with Tampa Bay, reports MLB.com's Bill Chastain.
Niemann missed the entire 2013 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in April, and logged just 38 innings the season prior after fracturing his leg. Chastain notes the 30-year-old, who went fourth overall in the 2004 draft, would "definitely be interested in coming back."
Niemann, who continues to rehab his surgically-repaired shoulder, conceded he's more likely to return in the second half of 2014. The 6-foot-9 righty posted a 4.06 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP across 23 starts in 2011, collecting 105 strikeouts while walking just 35 over 135.1 innings.
