February 16
Manager Terry Collins expressed some concern with Bartolo Colon pitching in the National League, according to a report by Kristie Ackert of the Daily News.
“The thing that scares me the most is the offensive side of the game. He’s gonna get on base,” Collins said. “We gotta be careful of the pulled muscles, hitting and sliding, things he hasn’t done much of.
“He had a brief time in National League in Montreal, but for the most part he’s been in league where he had a designated hitter.”
Colon has spent 15 of his 16 years in the majors in the American League.
February 15
Bartolo Colon arrived to camp at St. Lucie today, on the mandatory day when all pitchers and catchers were due to report.
He told reporters that the reason he signed with the Mets was because they were the only team to offer him a two-year deal.
Colon said aside from the Mets’ two-year, $20 million offer, he had many one-year offers from other teams.
“Other teams had one-year offers. The second year really sealed the deal for me with the Mets.”
Adam Rubin of ESPN NY also adds this:
How much longer can the right-hander, who turns 41 on May 24, perform at that level?
“Until my body can’t take it any more,” Colon said. “I’m not worried about my weight,” he said. “I’ve always been a big guy and I’ve always pitched that way. I’m comfortable with that.”
And I thought he signed because his lifelong dream was to play for the New York Mets…
Seriously though, it seems the Mets have showed what it will take to get signature free agents to come here. Overpaying, bidding against themselves, additional years, etc.
But as I’ve said numerous times, that’s what it’s going to take to get top players to come to Flushing.
There’s a stigma attached to this team that needs to be fixed and it starts at the top.
(Photo: NY Mets)
