On Friday, the Atlanta Braves signed 43-year old right-handed pitcher Bartolo Colon to a one-year $12.5 million deal. Colon has 232 career wins over 19 major league seasons, including a 15-8 campaign with a 3.43 ERA in 2016.
Braves, Bartolo Colon Agree to 1-Year Deal
Braves General Manager, John Coppolella, firmly stated the main focus in the off-season was to address the need for starting pitching. In just this week, they have established that goal.
Braves Front Office Addresses Need for Starting Pitching
First, they re-signed starter Josh Collmenter, who made three starts for Atlanta in September, to a $1.2 million deal. On Thursday, they signed 41-year old knuckleballer R. A. Dickey to a one-year, $8 million deal, with a team option for 2018 at the same price. Now, the Braves have signed three reliable starters for only $22.2 million onto the 2017 payroll.
Colon, along with Dickey, is a reliable innings eater for a team needing to reduce stress on an inexperienced bullpen. If this team is planning on competing for a playoff spot in 2017, a rotation of Julio Teheran and Mike Foltynewicz, along with Colon, Dickey and Collmenter, gives the team a good mix of young, hard-throwers and veteran soft-tossers that could be effective in August and September.
This also frees the front office to move one of their many young starters. Rumors have circulated about the interest from Atlanta to acquire an ace-type starter via trade, such as Chris Archer or Chris Sale. Now pitchers like Foltynewicz, Matt Wisler and Aaron Blair, who already have MLB experience, can be traded for a star pitcher, while not depleting the rotation for the future.
As a result, The Colon signing falls right into the Braves off-season gameplan. They are now suited to stand pat the rest of the winter, barring a major trade for an established player. Atlanta is moving further away from rebuilding into constructing a club ready to compete for 2017 and beyond. Furthermore, Colon should be great in the clubhouse for these young Braves pitchers and a great ticket seller for the shiny new SunTrust Park.
Main Photo
