The story is by now well-told. Retired pitcher Mark Mulder was at home, watching Paco Rodriguez pitching for the Dodgers late last year. He tried copying Rodriguez’s delivery and found it worked for him.

Mulder decided he would try to come back after a seven-year layoff. He worked out over the winter, tried out for a few clubs, and got a minor-league contract from the Angels.

Rodriguez’s reaction?

“My buddies texted me about it, then I saw the article,” he said. “It would’ve been a great story if he was able to come back. I helped create it, I guess. It would have been a great story.”

The story took a grisly turn when Mulder ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon on the first day of camp last week, effectively ending his season.

Is Mulder’s career over — again? Rodriguez hopes not.

“I do hope he does try to come back, to give it a shot and try to compete again,” Rodriguez said. “I saw him when he was with the A’s. Between him, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson it was impressive.”