Report: Bartolo Colon Agrees To 1-Year Deal With Braves
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Bartolo Colon will still be pitching when he turns 44 next season, but it won't be with the Mets.
The free agent right-hander has agreed to a one-year, $12.5 million deal with the Atlanta Braves, according to multiple reports.
Colon spent the past three seasons with the Mets, going 44-34 with a 3.90 ERA. In 2016, he went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA and was selected to his fourth All-Star Game.
The Mets reportedly expressed interest in re-signing Colon, a fan favorite with the nickname "Big Sexy," but did not make it a high priority. WFAN baseball insider Jon Heyman reported that the Mets were surprised by the offer Colon received and are disappointed to lose him. Colon's salary this past season was $7.25 million.
The hefty hurler, however, might have had a hard time landing a spot in the Mets' rotation, with Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler all expected to be back and healthy.
Syndergaard took to Twitter to express his disappointment after hearing the news of Colon's departure.
Colon will enter his 20th major league season in 2017. He has previously pitched for the Indians, Expos, White Sox, Angels, Red Sox, Yankees and A's. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2005 with the Angels.
