MLB Spring Training 2012: Jamie Moyer Making Strong Case for Rotation Spot

At 49-years-old, Jamie Moyer can qualify for his AARP card in November. That's not stopping him this spring, as Moyer hopes to earn a spot in a pretty shaky Rockies rotation.

The other candidates for rotation spots include Jeremy Guthrie, Drew Pomeranz, Juan Nicasio, Jhoulys Chacin, Guillermo Moscoso, Tyler Chatwood, Josh Outman and Alex White.

Guthrie and Chacin figure to be the only locks for the rotation, with Moyer and the others fighting for the final three spots.

On Sunday, Moyer pitched three strong innings in a 5-2 win over the White Sox. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out two.

This was following his strong spring debut in an 8-6 loss to the Giants earlier in the week. Moyer threw two scoreless in that game, allowing just one hit and striking out one.

Moyer last pitched in the majors on July 20, 2010 with the Phillies. He needed Tommy John Surgery, causing him to miss the rest of the season as well as all of 2011.

During that 2010 season, Moyer started 19 games for the Phillies. He went 9-9 with a 4.84 ERA. He walked just 20 batters in 111.2 innings.

After signing a minor league deal with the Rockies, Moyer is hoping to make the club as a non-roster invitee. Even if he doesn't earn a spot in the rotation, he could still be valuable to the team as a long man or lefty specialist out of the bullpen.

It's unlikely that Moyer would accept a minor league assignment at this point in his career, so this may very well be the last time we see Moyer.

Over the course of his 24-year career, Moyer owns a 267-204 record with a 4.24 ERA. He has pitched over 4,000 career innings and would obviously provide veteran experience to a young Rockies rotation.

He may no longer be a lock for 200+ innings, but 150+ innings is still a realistic possibility for the soft-tossing Moyer.

If Moyer earns a spot in the starting rotation, his strong comeback from Tommy John Surgery at age 49 will quickly become one of the better feel-good stories in baseball this season.