Operation Bring Big Sexy back to the Big Apple could be a go.
In an ESPN article published this afternoon, it was confirmed that 46-year-old pitcher Bartolo Colon wants one more shot in the Major Leagues. Colon hasn’t pitched in an MLB game since September of 2018, when he had his seemingly final campaign with the Texas Rangers.
But now he says he is ready to mount a comeback, and his target city and team; the New York Mets.
Colon said in an interview with ESPN that his time with the Mets from 2014 to 2016 contained some of his best memories from an illustrious 21-season career.
“I’ve played with 10 teams, but with the Mets, the way all those players treated me, how that entire franchise treated me, from the front office to the kitchen staff, it was amazing,” Colon said in the video call interview with ESPN.
“And Mets fans are the best.”
Colon put together three straight quality seasons with the Mets, honing a 3.43 ERA in his final year, winning 15 games. He was effective to help win Game 4 of the 2015 NLCS, picking up the win for his solid relief. And he put together countless fan favorite moments, from flying helmets, to behind the back flips, to a first home run that made for one of the most memorable calls and moments in Mets history.
Still, Colon’s ERA skyrocketed in 2018, sitting at 5.81 over 146.1 IP. His K/9 sat at a career low for a full season, and his HR/9 shot up to almost two, the highest it has been over his career.
However, if brought back on a flexible, cheap contract, Mets fans would probably be happy to welcome Bartolo back. With Noah Syndergaard out for the year for Tommy John’s Surgery, and an uncertain 2020 season likely ahead of us, the opportunity could present itself.
