Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports is reporting that New York Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon has agreed to terms with the Atlanta Braves.
On Friday morning, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports that the Atlanta Braves have signed former New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon, to a one-year contract.
According to Rosenthal, the Braves will be paying Colon 12.5 million next season, an increase from the 7.5 million the Mets were paying him last year.
Source: Bartolo Colon is one year, $12.5 million with #Braves. Pending a physical.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 11, 2016
The Mets were most likely unwilling to budge on a salary increase for Colon because they know there is a good chance he would have spent most of the season coming out of the bullpen.
These funds that many assumed to be allocated to Colon can be redistributed in a myriad of ways. Maybe they pursue a higher tier reliever, or maybe it will just help them retain their sluggers Yoenis Cespedes and Neil Walker.
Feelings right now ? #BigSexy pic.twitter.com/RQLzQ945p3
— Noah Syndergaard (@Noahsyndergaard) November 11, 2016
For Atlanta, they are receiving an All-Star pitcher who will be able to eat innings and mentor their young pitchers, like Aaron Blair and Matt Wisler. Colon looks to pair with the newly signed R.A. Dickey in the middle of the Braves’ rotation, right behind Julio Teheran.
The move makes sense for Colon, with the Mets unable to offer him enough starts that he could achieve his goal of catching Juan Marichal’s record of 243 wins for a Dominican-born pitcher.
Colon couldn't be assured rotation spot with #Mets and all-time DR wins record important to him. He has 233, Juan Marichal 243. #Braves
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 11, 2016
Colon finishes his three-year Mets career with a 44-34 record, a 3.90 ERA, and a 1.23 WHIP in 588.2 innings over 98 games (95 starts).
