DEC. 18: The Mets have announced the one-year deal (Twitter link).
DEC. 16: The Mets and Bartolo Colon have reached agreement on a one-year, $7.25MM deal, per Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Sources tell Rosenthal (link) that Colon had better offers from other teams, but he wanted to remain with the Mets. Colon’s affinity for the Mets’ fans, his teammates, and the organization led him to re-up in Queens.
All in all, there’s plenty of reason to believe that the 42-year-old can continue functioning as a useful MLB pitcher. Colon signed a two-year, $20MM deal to join the Mets after putting up two stellar seasons with the A’s. He hasn’t quite matched the results he had in Oakland, but has contributed a remarkable 397 innings of 4.13 ERA pitching with 6.5 K/9 and a sterling 1.2 BB/9.
Now, it remains to be seen how Colon will factor into the Mets’ plans for the 2016 season. Colon probably wouldn’t hold down a rotation spot all season in Queens barring an injury to one of the Mets’ excellent young starters, he could be a valuable stopgap early in the year as Zack Wheeler progresses in his Tommy John rehab.
New York figures to roll out a rotation fronted by Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, and Noah Syndergaard and also likely including highly-rated prospect Steven Matz. Still, will Jonathon Niese out of the picture and Wheeler still working his way back, Colon will help to ease uncertainty in the Mets’ rotation. Beyond Colon, the Mets could also turn to players like Rafael Montero and Logan Verrett if they need additional support in the starting five.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Yesssss, I cant wait to watch this guy bat for one more season.
But, as the article said above, he is the number 5 starter until July when Wheeler returns (all of this barring injury of course). I guess he then becomes the long man in the bullpen or maybe they go with a 6-man for a little while.
Guys get hurt- and even if nobody gets hurt, I wouldn’t be shocked to see them rest a few of those arms. So under/over 160 innings? What you guys think?
Hoping under, with the thought he pitches the final 3 months out of the pen. Over seems more likely though
Watching him bat with the hope that he’ll hit the ball so I can watch him run.
best signing of the offseason
My dream of having an official Mariners jersey that reads “Colon” on the back is getting dimmer and dimmer. Though it sounds like he signed for the right reasons, so good on you Bartolo!
Roman Colon is still a free agent, so there’s hope!
Great signing. Brings pretty much the opposite arsenal as Synd, DeGrom, Matz and Harvey. Will really benefit out of the pen, coming in after the 6 foot flame-throwers.
Bartolo is the only reason needed to ban the DH throughout MLB!
Somebody needs to walk him intentionally, though it would be pretty hard to do. Colon would swing at pickoff plays.
:-D
Hahahahaha that’s hilarious
He is the reason not to. Way more fun to watch him hit than Billy Butler or some generic DH type.
Bartolo, the new Livan Hernandez. Yawn. Who cares.
Except he’s older than Livan Hernandez is now. And had a better peak. And a better low.
The most entertaining player in baseball is yawn worthy now?
Hernandez was out of baseball after his age 37 and he was terrible for pretty most of his career. Bartolo’s age 42 4.16 ERA was lower than 10 of Hernandez’s seasons
Livian Hernandez was an excellent hitting pitcher. Me thinks you are confusing someone with Livian.
This move should really impact next year’s Cy Young voting!
I love that he turned down bigger offers for the team and the fans. Things are changing in Queens!
Where’s the guy with the whacky 50 man trade proposals that he thinks are normal because it happened once in 1889? With this move now the Mets could trade 50 of their starters for Freeman and the Braves entire AAA team!
You just made my day lmao
Just made my day lmao
Better watch the crap talking… He is old school
I really was hoping they would’ve replaced his role last season with Cliff Lee. I never really thought it was that realistic though.
What does Lee’s health situation look like?
I’d guess his timeline is similar to Wheeler’s, so he would be closer to a trade deadline or midseason type acquisition(timeline-wise) than a full season starter. And with waiting on Wheeler and the Colon signing, I don’t see the Mets doing it. Maybe if they used Wheeler to acquire a bat or something it could happen. But it would be one dadgum sweet rotation(it already is!) and a nice arm to have come playoff time, not to mention all those great young arms being around a veteran pro like Cliff(and Bartolo) couldn’t hurt at all.
I wasn’t aware that Cliff wasn’t expected to be ready by Opening Day. That changes my view on it then. I would’ve loved to have seen him in the back-end of the rotation. Plus, I think he has a lot to offer in experience and leadership. He really is the ultimate competitor and as a Cy Young winner, could really be an influence on a rotation that boasts several potential Cy Young candidates. I also don’t know what Cliff is looking for at this point in his career. He did make it clear before returning to Philadelphia that he had little interest in playing in NYC, as he turned down the Yankees offer for less money.
I think it was more so about wanting to be back in Philly as opposed to Not wanting to play in NYC. Don’t forget that he also turned down the exact same contract that NY gave from Texas too, and he was in the World Series with them before he became a Free Agent (though he was in one the previous year with Philly too)
Wonder if the Mets still want to deal Wheeler.
To celebrate, Bartolo went to the Golden Corral buffet, and ate all of it.
Big Sexy is back, baby! Well now the rotation is filled out until Zack Wheeler’s return in June. I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m just fine with deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz and Big Sexy for a couple of months. Plus they can use this fat S.O.B. out of the pen in long relief or make spot starts later in the season.
I think this is a nice, cost-effective move that fills in a temporary vacancy, but they still need a great relief pitcher and a big-time bat in the outfield. I also think I’m one of the only people still holding out hope for a reunion with Cespedes or the signing of Justin Upton. It’s a pipe dream knowing this franchise, but it’s a nice dream.
Where on earth would you play Justin Upton with Conforto and Grandy in the corners? I don’t get why people keep suggesting him.
Conforto is far from a guaranteed mlb starter and you have a gaping hole with Cuddyer and Cespedes gone. For a team that was just in the world series why would you NOT want to bring in more of a sure thing?
Can’t agree more.
The Met’s have a great rotation a WS capable rotation.
They should go in and spend to set them apart from the Nationals.
Thank you. I mean Conforto showed a lot of promise in the 2 months, 3 if you count the postseason, that he played, but he’s still wet behind the ears (Even though he almost won Game 4 of the Series by himself until Murphy forgot how to field). Conforto is going to be 23 when the season begins and still has a lot of growing to do.
I know scouts are all saying what a stud hitter he’s supposed to morph into over time, but without a full season under his belt, and the Mets hopefully looking to defend their pennant and pursue a championship, leaning on someone who isn’t old enough to rent a car is not the best plan.
This is perhaps one of, if not the only issue with Cuddyer’s retirement, and that is to mentor the young outfielder. Sure, Grandy can take the kid under his wing but Cuddyer was still a key figure in the clubhouse despite his declining performance.
Which is why I suggested the possibility of Justin Upton. A stud 28 year old power hitter who’s athletic as sin is by no means a bad decision, and offers about as much defensive flexibility as Cespedes. Sure he may not have the same cannon for an arm that Yoenis does, but he still can make a HUGE difference wherever he goes.
Huh? Since debuting last yr Conforto hit .270, OPS’d .841, and displayed an above avg arm and good defense in LF. Those are borderline all-star stats.
That was in response to southbeachbully.
I know this seems silly…but as much as I enjoy 1-4 amazing pitching, I enjoy watching Colon even more. There’s something about this guy that always makes me want to watch.