New York Mets News: Bartolo Colon, Jerry Blevins Re-Signed

New York Mets News: After addressing the middle infield last week, the Mets have turned their attention to the pitching staff, bringing back to familiar faces.

The New York Mets bolstered their middle infield during the Winter Meetings last week, trading for second baseman Neil Walker from the Pittsburgh Pirates, and signing free agent Asdrubal Cabrera away from the Tampa Bay Rays. Now, the Mets have begun addressing another one of their problems; the pitching staff.

With Jon Niese being shipped to the Pirates in the Walker trade, the Mets had a hole in their starting rotation. Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz are locked into spots, but Niese was expected to fill in for Zack Wheeler until he is healthy and ready to go after undergoing Tommy John surgery last Spring Training.

To help fill that void left by Niese will be a familiar face in Bartolo Colon.

The 42-year old Colon has become a fan favorite with Mets’ fans for his antics at the plate. Despite being a poor hitter, he has some of the most entertaining at-bats of anyone on the team and in the sport. But, he is also still a productive player on the mound, which is why the Mets brought him back.

He showcased last season that he is still a capable starter at the major league level despite being 42 years old. He also showed a willingness to do whatever it takes for the team to win, as he shifted to the bullpen the final weeks of the season and the postseason and was effective. He pitched to a 2.08 ERA in seven playoff appearances, giving up only two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings pitched.

He will take over in the starting rotation until Wheeler is ready, and will probably shift back to the bullpen after that. Colon gives the Mets a veteran presence in their clubhouse and someone that has a rubber arm that can start or come out of the bullpen. His contract is expected to be worth $7.25 million for the one year.

In addition to Colon, the Mets are also bringing back a familiar face in the bullpen in left-handed releiver Jerry Blevins. Blevins announced on his personal Twitter account earlier in the week that he would be returning to Queens for a second season.

Blevins missed most of the 2015 season because of a broken forearm. He appeared in only seven games before having his forearm broken with a line drive. He was on pace to return later in the season, but re-fractured the forearm in the same place in a freak accident when he slipped off the curb.

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Blevins will once again fill the role of lefty-specialist for the Mets, something they struggled with last season once Blevins went down with an injury. He will earn $4 million on his one year deal in 2016 and will improve a bullpen that lacked any true lefty-handed options once Blevins was sidelined.