Free agent right-hander Bartolo Colon would consider signing a minor league contract with one team – the Mets – Mike Puma of the New York Post reports (Twitter link). It could be a moot point, though, as the Mets have only shown “minimal” interest in Colon this winter, per Puma.
There’s already plenty of familiarity between Colon and the Mets, of course, as he pitched for the club from 2014-16 and emerged as a beloved member of the team during that stretch. Colon threw between 191 2/3 and 202 1/3 innings in each of those seasons and combined for a 3.90 ERA, 6.34 K/9 and 1.31 BB/9.
Colon parlayed his late-career success as a Met into a $12.5MM guarantee with the NL East rival Braves last winter, but his short tenure in Atlanta was disastrous, leading the club to release him in July. Colon finished the year with the playoff-bound Twins on a minors deal and performed better than he did with the Braves, but his results still weren’t appealing. All told, Colon’s age-44 season saw him post a 6.48 ERA with 5.6 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 across 143 innings (28 starts).
Now, given that he’s set to turn 45 in May and is coming off a dreadful season, a major league deal could be difficult to come by for Colon this winter. Still, Colon is looking to play one more season, which would be his 21st. With 240 victories, Colon is within striking distance of passing Juan Marichal (243) for most wins by a Dominican-born pitcher. While it would make for a nice story to see him accomplish that feat in a Mets uniform, it doesn’t appear likely the two sides will reunite.
dynamite drop in monty
That’s mighty kind of him. I still remember when he literally just left the Sox 08. Straight up job abandonment. And no one seemed to mind.
dynamite drop in monty
In 08*
Too much nog for this fella.
qbass187
He’s a fat cheater. This jelly roll should have been run out of the game 10 yrs ago!
dynamite drop in monty
No need to be cruel.
Ironman_4life
Bitter are we?
Tim Newport
Pretty sure it was 09…the rumor was that he’d left the team to join the Michael Jackson fans gathering to mourn his death…
GareBear
On a minor league deal, give him the glory of setting a record with a fan base that adores him. If nothing else, I would think the Wilpons would donit just to sell tickets and merchandise for breaking the record and make a quick buck.
ZantiGM
Retire already!!!!!!!!!!!
gomerhodge71
Agree 1000%. His existence on an MLB roster robs a young player of a spot, his days of usefulness are long gone, he’s a cheater and his hanging around is just selfishness. I think he actually believes he’ll be in the HOF.
halos and quacks
I think he just really enjoys playing baseball. Yeah he cheated fine. But don t spew nonsense. He doesn’t believe he will be in the HOF. and if a team is willing to give him a spot then why not.
dynamite drop in monty
Every players existence on an mlb roster robs another player of a spot. If they can’t beat out Bartolo Colon, that’s a them problem
Stuemke17
This.
MrMet19
I think he just wants that record from Marichal at this point
Bill
Huh? The article says he’d take minor league deal. Unless the Mets are so stocked at LV that he’d be taking the spot of someone more worthy, I’d say go for it.
stretch123
Marlins should bring him in for a season… I know he’s not a game changer but we need innings from our rotation somehow so we can allow young guys like Alcantara and Guzman to develop based on their projectory…
BlueSkyLA
Projectory? Now there’s one I’ve seen heard before.
dynamite drop in monty
It’s like where the projectionist at a church lives.
Eh kind of a stretch.
wjf010
Probably too expensive for the Marlins.
Polish Hammer
The increased price of the locker room spread would be too much.
Say Hey Now Kid
Probably too pricy for Wilpon
padreforlife
Ha
driftcat28 2
Steinbrenner may be irate if the Mets make this minor league deal
Ichiro51
ha good one
acarneglia
I love it when you call me Big Sexy!
hawaiiphil
Best and most ironic nickname in mlb
Polish Hammer
Big Sloppi fits better.
delete
Isn’t that the Red Sox guy from the World Series broadcast that no one could understand?
oaksbossko
Instead of the Mets, he should reunite with the A’s. That’s really where he’s late career resurgence started. A’s young rotation needs a good veteran mentor.
brucewayne
He was roided up with the A’s wasn’t he?
dynamite drop in monty
Everyone is “roided up” one way or another.
You’d enjoy the sport more if you’d accept this.
baumann
Word up.
brucewayne
You are so WRONG!
dynamite drop in monty
No U R !!!!
brucewayne
Stick a fork in him!
Polish Hammer
No please don’t, I’m afraid you’d drown in the syrup that would ooze out.
hawaiiphil
lol
brucewayne
LoL
SundownDevil
Maybe if they include a weight clause and test him often for PED’s during the season.
dynamite drop in monty
How’d you like it if your employer decided to “test you often” as a mandate for your employment ?
jd396
Doesn’t bother me
SundownDevil
If I had broken the rules and already tested positive, then yes, I would expect to be tested more often.
In real life, if that was the case, I would be fortunate to even keep my job, let alone have it as a mandate for employment.
So yes, he should be tested more often than before… and still have to lose weight.
dynamite drop in monty
Dangerous precedents. It’s easy when you’re making rules for strangers tho. Let’s hope it never hits you at home.
Cat Mando
Any player who has tested positive is tested more often under the JDA. Terms of the JDA, each time it is updated (after the end of each season are “grandfathered”, so if a player had a failed test in 2012 and fails again he would be suspended for 162 games. Follow-up testing is increased under JDA’s beginning in 2014 (if memory serves). Even if he doesn’t sign this year and remains a FA he will be tested (all FA are). JDA link
mlbplayers.com/pdf9/5450924.pdf
brucewayne
You do know that A LOT of employers do that right?
brucewayne
I’ve been retired for 23 years! So I don’t care
brucewayne
I’m currently taking testosterone shots every 2 weeks , so I guess I’d test positive ! LoL
Cat Mando
You could always try and get a Therapeutic Use Exemption. It worked for A-Rod in 2007. MLB never admitted that was a scam but Independent Program Administrator was dismissed and A-Rod’s doctor (according to rumor) was banned.
davidcoonce74
Every player in the league is “tested often” per season, as per the basic agreement. People like Colon, who tested positive once (for using HGH to try to come back from the shoulder injury that robbed him of five full seasons of his career, btw) are tested more frequently. No player is untested anymore, in the minors or majors.
Polish Hammer
“Five full seasons”….or the 2010 season as it is also known.
davidcoonce74
He pitched in 10 games in 06, 18 in 07, 7 in 08, and 12 in 09 dealing with the same shoulder injury. He then went experimental treatment that included HGH and missed the entire 2010 season. This was after being one of the most durable starters in baseball over the previous 8 seasons – so, yeah, he went from a 34-start-a-year workhorse and then, over the following 5 seasons, pitched in a total of 47 games over the next 5 full seasons.
Polish Hammer
So by “five FULL seasons” you really meant one FULL season and parts of others. That’s ok, all the cheating he’s done over his career extended him by at least that much.
Cat Mando
He was busted for testosterone in 2012,. That led to his suspension.. It wasn’t until Biogenesis hit that the MLBPA finally caved to allow hGh blood samples.
brucewayne
But we still hear from idiots that all baseball players are on something ! What a joke! No they are not!
Pablo
Put him in the pen. He could make it once through a lineup fine. Let the guy make good on his promise to his grandma. He showed with the twins he could still be effective.
Polish Hammer
Would it then be called a pig pen?
bringoutthegimp
The Orioles need sign him immediately!
Col. Taylor
Thought the Twins would bring him back as the ahem… number 3 starter. If he got win 243 they might sell a few more sandwiches.
Francys01
Colon should keep playing. Great pitcher.
dirtbagfreitas
Love me some Tolo. Minor league deal with an invite to camp should be a lock for him.
Paul Heyman
Let Bartolo get 244 wins and either release him after that or let him play until his arm falls off.
LongTimeFan1
He wants to return to the Mets on minor league deal. I have no problem with that. Players and fans adore him, he’s good mentor, good entertainment, has great pitching knowledge, and if he’s good enough in spring training to earn a spot, then Mets will make decision what next. Can’t get to that point without offering minor league deal which is the only way he’ll get a chance to prove he can still contribute.
Yankeepatriot
Colon is shot. He needs to ride off into the sunset as he had a good long career
Bravesbutt
He was awful as a Brave. A bad signing and he overflowed his uniform. He looked like a giant marshmallow. After last year I would be surprised if anyone would sign him.
kimball0401
He’d be the only one in that rotation to stay healthy anyways
mlb1225
So much hate towards him in this comment section.
pseudostats
Lots of restaurants in NY, so why not?
pjmcnu
Let him come back. We need an innings eater, and the Wilpons just told Sandy that he can’t actually spend money to get one (because the Mets play in Cincinnati, apparently, despite their name). He’s a no-risk, low-$$ option on a minors deal. Besides, his homer in SD made my heart grow 3 sizes, Grinch-style….
Yankeepatriot
What good is an innings eater when he gives up 6 runs a game ?
Polish Hammer
That’s the whole irony of an “innings eater”. It’s usually a veteran arm that will eat up 6+ IP/game and save the pen. But what good are the innings they’re ‘eating’ if they’re bad innings with a high ERA?
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
The Wilpons: “Does he want more than nine bucks an hour?”
Somebody: “Yes.”
The Wilpons: “Forget it. Too pricey.”
pjmcnu
Soon to be fired Asst. GM: “Sir, league minimum doesn’t mean minimum wage.” Fred Wilpon: “What? I’m irate!”
Vizquel13
Perhaps he wants to pitch until he is eligible for social security
Polish Hammer
They talk about how somebody is going to die in these contact sports, they ought to be worried about him dropping over trying to make it to the mound.
dynamite drop in monty
How many vile comments can one person make, childishly attacking someone’s personal appearance? I’m sure you are the epitome of exemplary physical perfection, yourself.
Also, your slams are not funny.
Polish Hammer
That wasn’t a slam, that was an honest observation. If you haven’t noticed he’s a few happy meals away from having a coronary out on the field for everyone to see and be traumatized forever.
brucewayne
Yet you can post stupid claims that all baseball players are on something! LoL
AndThisGameBelongsToMySanDiegoPadres
@brucewayne are you ever gonna use your cubsfan2489 account again? I was just wondering. Troll.
Gwynning's Anal Lover
Sign Jamie Moyer
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
Or Albert Belle…
dynamite drop in monty
Or Mickey Klutts.
Am I doing this right?
Harry h
Merry Christmas to all trade rumor bloggers and a happy new year .
Solaris601
The good news for Mets ownership is that Colon is saying he’ll work for food……and he means it.