New York Mets: Bartolo Colon wants back in, feeling not mutual
Bartolo Colon may be interested in a return to the New York Mets, but the feeling is not mutual.
How often do you hear about a player actually interested in returning to the New York Mets? It doesn’t happen very often so when it does, you take notice. The way things have gone in New York lately, at least on the Queens side, you would think everyone would want to leave and never come back. Who would want to return?
We all remember Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon. Just watching him be successful with that big grin on his face was always worth it, right? He brought a lot of joy to being a Mets fan. Take a look at this tweet from Mike Puma of the NY Post:
Heard Bartolo Colon might be open to a minor-league deal, but only for a return to Mets. Sounds like the Mets' interest is minimal at this point.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) December 23, 2017
Interesting. If you believe what you read, Colon wants to come back but the Mets don’t have much interest, even at bringing him back on a minor league deal. Normally my reaction would be, why not? It would be for a minimal amount of money leaving the Mets with very little downside. He’s around the team as a spot starter and if he isn’t needed he is in the minors and eventually released. What’s the big deal?
After all, Colon was quite successful as a member of the Mets. Besides hitting his first career home run, he posted a 44-34 record over three seasons. He threw one complete game and notched an ERA of 3.90. His strikeout to walk ratio was 415-86. It’s not as if Colon had problems here in New York. He actually was a beloved figure.
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The trouble is he will be 45 years old in May. Colon fell off the cliff in 2017, posting a record of 7-14 with a 6.48 ERA. He looked like a pitcher whose best days are behind him. He will turn 45 years old. What evidence is there that he will find the fountain of youth? Does anyone really find it at 45 years old?
If Colon had done anything last season or shown that he had anything left, the answer would be different. After leaving the Mets he looked like a pitcher at the end of the road. There is no reason to invest in a pitcher that is at the end of the line. Being sentimental is not a good enough reason. Believe it or not, the Mets are doing the sensible thing here.