The Rangers have released Bartolo Colon from his minor-league contract, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports. Colon was in camp competing for a starter or long relief job, but evidently his performance this spring didn’t convince the club to add him to the MLB roster at this time. However, Sullivan reports in a separate tweet that the Rangers are interested in trying to keep Colon around for Triple-A depth, and that the two sides are still discussing a way to make that happen.
Cole Hamels, Matt Moore, Doug Fister and Mike Minor were already locks to make the club’s rotation, so Colon had to beat out a lot of competition (including Tim Lincecum and Jesse Chavez) in order to win the final job. However, with Martin Perez expected to return on April 5th, the club wouldn’t seem to have an immediate need for the 44-year-old Colon.
Colon has seen playing time in parts of 20 MLB campaigns, including a Cy Young-winning 2005. Though he sat out 2010 (which would have been his age-36 season) due to shoulder damage, a stem-cell treatment revived his career and helped him post at least 2.4 fWAR in six consecutive seasons. A 6.48 ERA showing last year caused him to settle for a minor-league deal, but as a fan favorite, “Big Sexy” would still seem to have a shot at cracking the Rangers’ rotation at some point this season if he indeed agrees to start the year at Triple-A Round Rock.
acarneglia
I love it when you call me Big Sexy
tieran711
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
papa fraunch
L Tieran
under raited
He will never get those 6 wins
KCelts
He’s going to be just like “Mr. 3,000” lol
Whos123
He has a 3.00 era in 18 innings this spring. He was only roughed up in one outing, I thought he did good enough
beauvandertulip
19 hits in 18 innings is not good doesn’t matter what his era is
jbigz12
Really? He’s averaged over a hit an inning his entire career.
jbigz12
baseball-reference.com/players/c/colonba01.shtml Take a look at his career average….
ayrbhoy
I thought he looked good in his last outing vs the Mariners, he threw a 3 Hitter against a Seattle lineup that included Dee Gordon, Cano Cruz, Seager and Ryon Healy. SF calling
ron cey
dipito is calling him or ricky nolasco as we speak
Rickey O'Sunnyvale
Giants. Like his butt cheeks.
JackOfDiamonds
He can replace Bum in the rotation with his big one!
On a more serious note, I hope this isn’t the end for Big Sexy. His stint with the Mets was incredible considering he was supposed to be washed up at the time.
miko
Could be an option for San Fran? He wouldn’t cost much so they could still stay under the cap.
walls17
You people know he’s terrible now right?
24TheKid
I still don’t understand why people worship this guy.
walls17
Because he’s fat? And he hit a home run once? I don’t really know either.
gneedoba
Well I don’t know about now, nostalgia I guess just like every other old player who is no good anymore that everyone cries over when they lose their everyday job….but at one point he was like watching a sea lion kick everyone’s butt at baseball and it was glorious! You couldn’t not love it.
thegreatcerealfamine
Yea,and he was caught multiple times using PED’s…gotta love a cheat!
bearcat6
More like a walrus.
CardsNation5
Francisco Rodriguez got released by the Phillies too
camdenyards46
Nooooooooooooo…..
camdenyards46
3 ERA 1.17 WHIP 10 Ks in 18 IP isn’t even bad. Someone else will probably give him a shot
wrigleywannabe
it’s spring…
brucewayne
The Marlins will be calling !
brewcrewer
Noooooooo this can’t be the end baseball needs him
thegreatcerealfamine
No,Strip mall clinics need him…WTF
michaelw
The Brewers should get him for the league min. They need him.
Coal tender
Competition, what competition? Colon was way better than the one’s currently on the roster. They are all “has-beens.”
Phillies2017
I hope Big Sexy gets another job. He certainly looked like he still belongs on a major league mound this spring, and honestly, I want to see him pitching for the next decade.
Long Duc Dong
Who didn’t see this coming come on
osfandan
He would be great depth for the O’s. He can start until Cobb is ready.
jbigz12
We’ll probably run out a 4 man rotation. We could use a depth starter for AAA though. Either him or Feldman makes some sense.
ken48tribe
Additionally, he makes us old guys feel young again!
xfloydsterx
it’s the Mariners turn. they have roster spots available and need SP depth.
jay13
The brewers are going to send Bernie to recruit him
Compo
It’s his attitude. The way he carries himself on and off the field. Personally, I find a lot of players out there a little too arrogant or snobby or whatever, but he’s certainly not one of them. When Machado eventually retires, I’m probably not going to care, but I’ll definitely be sad when Altuve hangs up his cleats for good. When you like a player as a person, it’s only natural that you’re sad when they’re done playing.
2weeks
no longer a Rangers fan sad day
geg42
I would rather have the consistency of Colon than the roller coaster ride the Matt Moore offers. Colon throws strikes every time out. But this is also about money.
xabial
I want Bartolo to get 10 more wins, so he can finish his career with 250 wins.
Miscellaneous: 46 more Strikeouts, so finish with 2500
thegreatcerealfamine
xabial..I read the grief you got on the LeBlanc article and felt it was over the top. Dude this post you’re making about this clown is to say the least..fodder.
gomerhodge71
I want Bert Blyleven to come back and get 13 more wins to hit 300. Neither will happen. Colon needs to just go home. He can’t even make the Rangers roster.
bobbyvwannabe
I met Bartolo quite a few times in Queens during his Mets days. He was always a gentleman. Good luck, Bart.
rper4182
Good depth piece for mets
LF16
Rangers pitching staff is awful.
hojostache
Bartolo Colon made his MLB debut the day Turner Field opened. He’ll now pitch at the new Braves park. The dude outlasted a stadium. -Field Yates via Twitter
Obviously he alread pitched at the new ATL Park, thisvis an older tweet.
Senioreditor
I hope it’s not the end for him but if it is he’s the last player from the 1990’s.