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Article: Twins Sign Ancient Pitcher To Minor League Contract

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Parker Hageman All-Star

Parker Hageman

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Let’s all welcome the Big Sexy to the Minnesota Twins organization.

 

On Friday night, the Twins announced they have signed the 44-year-old right-handed pitcher Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract. Colon will report to Rochester over the next few days with the intention of working toward a spot in the starting rotation in Minnesota.

 

What can the oldest pitcher in baseball provide the Twins (if anything)?This offseason Colon signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the Atlanta Braves but was released on July 4 after compiling a 2-8 record with a 8.14 ERA. Clearly the results have not been pleasant but Colon is virtually the same pitcher he was in the prior season with the Mets when he finished 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA in 191 innings.

 

According to Fangraphs.com’s hard-hit rate, Colon’s marks stayed nearly the same (35.4% in 2016 and 32.4% in 2017) but his new defense failed to convert balls in play into outs at the same frequency as the previous season, as his BABIP ballooned from .291 to .360. He’s also be unable to keep runners from scoring as his left-on-base rate has fallen from 76.5% in 2016 to 48.2% this season.

 

Why might he be more successful in Minnesota? It may come down to defense.

 

Opponents posted a .314 batting average on ground balls against Colon, well above the MLB average of .239. It stands to reason that with a better infield and a better plan of defense, Colon should be able to keep some of those hits off his ledger. When it comes to infields, the move between Atlanta (-10 runs saved) and Minnesota (-6 runs saved) is basically a wash however the Twins have been implementing more defensive shifts than the Braves. Of course, Colon has also had a noticeable uptick in free passes issued, as his walk rate grew from 4.2% last year to 6.7% this year. A very good mark, yet more baserunners nonetheless.

 

Once someone who was reaching triple digits at a young age, now Colon can barely break glass with his velocity - not even averaging Back To The Future velo on his fastball anymore (under 88). Colon has been using movement and pitch variation to keep major league hitters at bay. When operating correctly, his two-seam fastball is a weapon to behold.

 

 

Colon reportedly picked up a grip from Greg Maddux which allows for the added movement. Essentially, the right-hander will aim at a left-handed batter’s hip and watch the pitch spin back over the zone as the hitter flinches.

 

 

You never know what might be left in the tank in a pitcher at this age but with Colon, a lot of his more recent success was based on guile. It is a low-risk maneuver for the Twins and one that could add some instant depth to the rotation at a low cost as they attempt to stay in contention in the season’s second-half.

 

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Mill1634 Minnesota Twins

Mill1634

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Good move, imo. Get him up here for 3 or 4 starts to let him see if he can pitch like he did in 2016. If he can, great. If he can't, move on. However, I don't want to see this turning into something where we run him out there every 5th day if he isn't worth it. Should be a good stop gap until we bring someone in via trade, or until the younger guys are ready. Clearly Jorge could use some AAA time, as expected.

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biggentleben GCL Twins

biggentleben

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As a Braves fan, sorry.

 

I announced my resignation to my Tomahawk Take staff the day Colon was DFA'd. I started at Puckett's Pond the day he was officially released. I end my first week with the Pond with him signing. Lovely. LOL.

 

He's been toast all year. I had the misfortune of watching him befuddle hitters often the last few years, but he's not the same guy this year. His movement isn't the same, he's actually struggling with consistency in his simple delivery, which is certainly adding to the walks.

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yarnivek1972 Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

yarnivek1972

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As a Braves fan, sorry.

 

I announced my resignation to my Tomahawk Take staff the day Colon was DFA'd. I started at Puckett's Pond the day he was officially released. I end my first week with the Pond with him signing. Lovely. LOL.

 

He's been toast all year. I had the misfortune of watching him befuddle hitters often the last few years, but he's not the same guy this year. His movement isn't the same, he's actually struggling with consistency in his simple delivery, which is certainly adding to the walks.

If that's the case, it should be pretty easy for Twins evaluators to see that in his appearances for AAA Rochester.

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mikelink45 Wichita Wind Surge

mikelink45

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This is a non-move.  Low risk, probably low cost and it should sell some minor league tickers, but if he is up before Gonsalves and Romero who have already seen Felix Jorge take two of their starts, not to mention the other retreads that have been signed, I will be very disappointed.  

 

I just read the minor league report and I do not see a need for this move. 

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jud6312 First Round Pick

jud6312

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I'd wager he holds up nobody.

He's not going to be in Rochester long, 2 or 3 starts max. After that, he's either in Minneapolis or released.

True, but that's 2-3 AAA starts that could go to someone like Gonsalves or Romero. Heck, they could even go to Jorge. They all appear ready for that jump in competition.

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Han Joelo GCL Twins

Han Joelo

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This deal should have been contingent on him returning Johan's Cy Young Award.

 

On the bright side, Bartolo and Ichiro are the only two holes I have left. Once they are gone, there is no one older than me playing MLB. That means I still have time to make it, right?

I use the same barometer.

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drjim Cedar Rapids Kernels

drjim

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Shows you what the FO thinks of the ability of minor league pitching depth to help this team, this year. The answer? Not much. 2-3 starts in AAA and on to Minnesota. If I'm counting the schedule right, they only need a 5th starter once the rest of the month - July 18 against the Yankees.He won't be ready then if he's going to AAA. Next time a 5th starter is needed is first week in August.

And they are quite accurate in thinking that.

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