Article: Twins Sign Ancient Pitcher To Minor League Contract

[mickeymental]

maybe they signed him to dh.

[FlauerPauer]

Let's just hope he wasn't guaranteed a spot in the rotation.  I'm sure he was, since the Mets offered to put him in the back end of their rotation, but he was afraid of being pushed to the bullpen when their injured starters return...

[Broker]

It's a cheap move that might work out. If not the Twins just move on.

[jorgenswest]

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.

 

He had a start on June 28. I assume he has been throwing. He can start on the 13th for Rochester and be ready for a start against the Yankees the 18th.

 

I agree that they don't think much of the AAA pitching depth beyond their plan to have Berrios and Mejia as depth behind Santana, May, Gibson, Santiago and Hughes. It wasn't enough depth. Duffey is valuable in his relief role. Time to take a shot on Colon.

[Deduno Abides]

Let's just hope he wasn't guaranteed a spot in the rotation.  I'm sure he was, since the Mets offered to put him in the back end of their rotation, but he was afraid of being pushed to the bullpen when their injured starters return...

My guess is that his choice of the Twins over the Mets had to do with a negative perception of the atmosphere with the Mets. Injuries, trade rumors, clubhouse issues, unhappiness with the manager and front office (sound familiar?), whereas it might seem like the Twins are having fun and doing interesting things.

[Deduno Abides]

He had a start on June 28. I assume he has been throwing. He can start on the 13th for Rochester and be ready for a start against the Yankees the 18th.

I agree that they don't think much of the AAA pitching depth beyond their plan to have Berrios and Mejia as depth behind Santana, May, Gibson, Santiago and Hughes. It wasn't enough depth. Duffey is valuable in his relief role. Time to take a shot on Colon.

It's an option to see if he can be as good as he was last year, with most of his salary paid by the Braves. He was almost three fWAR last year, and greater than 2.5 every year since 2016. A lot of his stats are the same, except unusually bad BABIP, HR/FB and LOB, which could or should regress (improve) toward the mean. Options don't come much cheaper.

[Doomtints]

Colon is probably a waste of time as a pitcher, but the Braves could not say enough good things about his ability to mentor.

[biggentleben]

 

Colon is probably a waste of time as a pitcher, but the Braves could not say enough good things about his ability to mentor.

 

Well, publicly, yes. However, when he was asked to move to a non-starter role, that "mentor" role suddenly shifted significantly. That's what eventually led to his DFA, otherwise, he'd be the long man in Atlanta right now.

[Doomtints]

 

Well, publicly, yes. However, when he was asked to move to a non-starter role, that "mentor" role suddenly shifted significantly. That's what eventually led to his DFA, otherwise, he'd be the long man in Atlanta right now.

 

That's not the story I read at all. 

[biggentleben]

 

That's not the story I read at all. 

 

Once again, the public story and the private story are two different stories...

[h2oface]

I sure hope he doesn't get a start during the Dodger series. That would ruin all the anticipation of seeing the 3 games for me. Please. No Colon for me in LA!!!! Hopefully he gets shelled in Rochester and is released sooner than later.

[spinowner]

This is a very low risk signing. And I don't think it's out of desperation, which, as most of us know, is Reusse's take. My guess is that Falvine are hoping he'll be available for a spot start or two, especially after Sept. 1. If so they'd have to find room for him on the 40-man but if he doesn't show us enough in Rochester then we congratulate him on a great career and wish him luck in retirement.

[Doomtints]

 

Once again, the public story and the private story are two different stories...

 

The Braves brass were crystal clear when they said publicly that they did not think Colon would work in the bullpen and that was never an option.

 

The Braves had to cut a pitcher. They felt they have 5 starters better than Colon and they have a very good bullpen. 

 

Not sure what "private" thing you read, but I would be skeptical because what you are suggesting was the discussion makes no sense. This would be like the Twins moving Buxton to catcher.

[biggentleben]

 

The Braves brass were crystal clear when they said publicly that they did not think Colon would work in the bullpen and that was never an option.

 

The Braves had to cut a pitcher. They felt they have 5 starters better than Colon and they have a very good bullpen. 

 

Not sure what "private" thing you read, but I would be skeptical because what you are suggesting was the discussion makes no sense. This would be like the Twins moving Buxton to catcher.

 

It's not a "read". It's talking with people inside the organization. The team's intention is to fill the rotation with young pitchers, hence needing an arm that handles multiple innings, not something in the current bullpen or something any of the relievers on the current 40-man can do. It's still an issue that the team is now using the option train to handle instead of having a long guy, having moved Akeel Morris up this week and optioned a starter down to get to the All-Star break.

 

There are a lot of guys within the organization who loved Colon, and a lot that wanted him released without DFA'ing him, but the front office has turned DFA's into at least org filler gold in the past, so they attempted to do the same with Colon. They ended up having to release him due to no interest in him at his salary.

 

The Braves handled things as classy as they could with a guy who didn't want to do what they were asking him to do in order to get the money they were paying him. Rather than have him be an issue, he was DFA'd and eventually released.

[Thrylos]

• .360 BABIP, 45.6 % LOB and 14.3 % HR/FB makes me think that he will improve and his ERA might regress close to his low 5s SIERA and xFIP.

That would make him the 4th best pitcher for the Twins this season

Uffda (on both counts)

The other side of this equation will depend on what Flavine decide to do with Santiago who is the one that Colon effectively replaces and saves pitchers like Jorge and Turley from being embarrassed

Which actually makes me think that it is a temporary measure and (hopefully) if the team looks to be close enough in the deadline, they will go after better pitching.

In other ways, it is a lot like the Steve Carlton signing back in '87, and I have nothing bad to say about that signing, so I better not horribly dislike this...

[D.C Twins]

#3-5 starting pitching is a dumpster fire….IF Colon could CONSISTENTLY provide 5-6 innings of with 4-ish runs allowed, he would be a huge improvement. No risk what-so-ever and maybe someday we won’t need 13-14 pitchers on the 25 man roster!

[Kwak]

Are the Twins out of money?  It seems as if every decision is buttressed by the reason "low-risk option".

[Thrylos]

 

Are the Twins out of money?  It seems as if every decision is buttressed by the reason "low-risk option".

 

$ is not the issue during the season.  The cost of prospects for a rental is.

[DocBauer]

Just for fun, I looked up Colons numbers for the past 4 previous seasons:

 

Season W-L ERA IP H BB SO WHIP

 

2013 18-6 2.65 190 193 29 117 1.166

2014 15-13 4.09 202 218 30 151 1.226

2015 14-13 4.16 194 217 24 136 1.238

2016 15-8 3.43 191 200 32 128 1.210

[old nurse]

Drew Pmeranz cost the Red Sox a level of pitching prospect the Twins do not have. Likely anyone you could get in trade on the cheap would be on the level of Gibson.  Look what they gad to give up to get Santiago

[David HK]

 

hold my beer.

That's what I always imagine Colon has just said to somebody in the dugout, just before he takes the mound.

[gman]

I'm probably overthinking this, but who would be the veteran presence should they go ahead and trade Santana?

[h2oface]

 

Colon is probably a waste of time as a pitcher, but the Braves could not say enough good things about his ability to mentor.

 

Lesson one: How to steal a Cy Young from a more deserving pitcher.

[h2oface]

 

Just for fun, I looked up Colons numbers for the past 4 previous seasons:

Season W-L ERA IP H BB SO WHIP

2013 18-6 2.65 190 193 29 117 1.166
2014 15-13 4.09 202 218 30 151 1.226
2015 14-13 4.16 194 217 24 136 1.238
2016 15-8 3.43 191 200 32 128 1.210

 

Well documented that he had a very surprising run with 2013 and 2016 being very surprising and useful. Aging is a brutal and ruthless universal condition. It can have quite quick and sudden consequences, especially when you haven't respected and taken care of your body. It is slapping him hard this year, which should be his last. For the best interests of the Twins' future, I hope he doesn't make it out of Rochester, and our youth get the opportunities. Let him take the denial and comeback to another team.

[drjim]

Well documented that he had a very surprising run with 2013 and 2016 being very surprising and useful. Aging is a brutal and ruthless universal condition. It can have quite quick and sudden consequences, especially when you haven't respected and taken care of your body. It is slapping him hard this year, which should be his last. For the best interests of the Twins' future, I hope he doesn't make it out of Rochester, and our youth get the opportunities. Let him take the denial and comeback to another team.

He's not blocking any youth right now.

[Vanimal46]

Concur with Thrylos. This is most likely a temporary measure to prevent Jorge/Turley/etc. from embarrassing themselves while they search for better pitching.

 

If Colon is truly toast, then he'll be gone in 2-3 starts. And we'll all forget 7 months from now that Colon ever wore a Twins jersey.

[drjim]

Concur with Thrylos. This is most likely a temporary measure to prevent Jorge/Turley/etc. from embarrassing themselves while they search for better pitching.

 

If Colon is truly toast, then he'll be gone in 2-3 starts. And we'll all forget 7 months from now that Colon ever wore a Twins jersey.

No matter what happens, how can you forget that peak big sexy Colon wore a Twins jersey?

[jokin]

2013 18-6 2.65 190 193 29 117 1.166

2014 15-13 4.09 202 218 30 151 1.226

2015 14-13 4.16 194 217 24 136 1.238

2016 15-8 3.43 191 200 32 128 1.210

 

 

 

Well documented that he had a very surprising run with 2013 and 2016 being very surprising and useful.

 

These 4 years of stats aren't surprising. They are shocking when compared to Twins SP futility over the same time span. Colon outpitched every SP over the 4-year span who pitched at least 250 innings- even Ervin Santana.

 

Say "Hello" to the porky guy who would have been the Twins ace since 2013.

 

To put it in even more disturbing perspective- Colon's WORST season of the last four- 2015- was BETTER than the combined 4-year #s for every Twins pitcher, except Santana.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 11, 2017 by jokin

[laloesch]

 

These 4 years of stats aren't surprising. They are shocking when compared to Twins SP futility over the same time span. Colon outpitched every SP over the 4-year span who pitched at least 250 innings- even Ervin Santana.

 

Say "Hello" to the porky guy who would have been the Twins ace since 2013.

 

To put it in even more disturbing perspective- Colon's WORST season of the last four- 2015- was BETTER than the combined 4-year #s for every Twins pitcher, except Santana.

 

Yikes!

[Monkeypaws]

Well, at least Rochester and the IL will make hay of this signing:

 

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/bartolo-colon-part-several-minor-league-food-related-promotions-183422787.html

 

Good old baseball.