Sox, Colon reach minor league deal

[TheKilo]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3262747

[Cocos Disciples]

Low risk, high reward deal. Nothing to not like about it.

[riverside sluggers]

Good depth to have stashed away in Triple A, not bad of a deal

[Jayhawk Bill]

2008 PECOTA had him as a mediocre but MLB-caliber starting pitcher, with a 44% chance that he'd turn out to be better than that and a 24% chance that he'd be a whole lot better.

 

An extra 24% chance that we've just signed the old Bartolo Colon to help if needed without encumbering our 40-man roster is almost too good to be true. Great, great move by the FO.

[a700hitter]

Did he have shoulder surgery, and if so, when did he have it? I remember watching him throw 95-97 during the the World Baseball Classic in 2006. I remember thinking that he was going to ruin his arm considering that he had already had shoulder problems. Unless this guy's shoulder is badly damaged, this could turn out well, because he will work hard to re-establish his career and get a better contract in 2009.

[BSN07]

Like the move alot. Hes not a bad insurance policy to have in Pawtucket. Or if he can hold down the 5th SP spot, Buchholz could be the insurance in Pawtucket. Having Buchholz in AAA might save him some innings to use for the stretch run. He be an excellent late season boost.

[MANNYHOF24]

Like the move alot. Hes not a bad insurance policy to have in Pawtucket. Or if he can hold down the 5th SP spot' date=' Buchholz could be the insurance in Pawtucket. Having Buchholz in AAA might save him some innings to use for the stretch run. He be an excellent late season boost.[/quote']

 

Can you imagine how good our rotation could be if Bartolo was actually somehow able to find himself again? I know thats probably not going to happen, but there is no reason why the sox shouldnt have done this. That being said I think Buchholz is still going to be in the rotation to start the season.

[Anuj09]

I think at most he will be like wade miller from 2005.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

Honestly I don't think Clay Buchholz is the question mark of the rotation...I think it's Tim Wakefield. Hopefully between Wakefield, Colon, and Schilling...they can fill out the rotation this season.

[Cocos Disciples]

Honestly I don't think Clay Buchholz is the question mark of the rotation...I think it's Tim Wakefield. Hopefully between Wakefield' date=' Colon, and Schilling...they can fill out the rotation this season.[/quote']

 

They're both question marks. Wakefield was very very shaky last year, and hes only a year older. If we can get something similar to what he got last year I'll be reasonably pleased, as he really does worry me. Buchholz is definitely a question mark too. He started 3 games the whole year. Sure, one of them was a no hitter and ended the year with a 1.5 ERA (approx), but thats in THREE starts. Theres no guarantee that he's going to be a great pitcher. I do expect him to be solid, but I still think hes a question mark. Anyways, Colon is good insurance.

[jacksonianmarch]

Not to burst your bubble, but he was topping out at 86 mph in winter ball. 15 teams sent scouts to his starts, none signed him. If he isnt touching 95, he's useless. The rest of his arsenal isnt good enough to stand on its own.

[jacksonianmarch]

but if, and it is a monster IF, he can regain that mid 90s heat, he could be very useful.

[Ray10]

Good signing for the Sox. Except I think well be seeing him on the MLB Roster come April.

[CrespoBlows]

He might be able to help in relief, too.

[mAAAbs]

What's not to like? Anything we can get out of him would be a plus.

[Jayhawk Bill]

Not to burst your bubble' date=' but he was topping out at 86 mph in winter ball. 15 teams sent scouts to his starts, none signed him. If he isnt touching 95, he's useless. The rest of his arsenal isnt good enough to stand on its own.[/quote']

 

Not to burst your bubble, but you're blowing smoke.

 

Rotowire had him at 87-89 mph on January 22, and Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register wrote that he was at 89-91 mph on January 24. At February 7 at BP, Derek Jacques wrote that Colon hit 92 mph in the Caribbean World Series. FWIW, Clay Davenport had him listed as the 11th-best starting pitcher of the Winter Leagues, despite his shock at seeing how the stats came out.

 

Bartolo Colon is good enough to stand a chance. Let's see how he does in real games with real hitters before we try to belittle his chances while we claim he's throwing 6 mph less than the radar guns are showing.

[BoSox21]

Not to burst your bubble' date=' but he was topping out at 86 mph in winter ball. 15 teams sent scouts to his starts, none signed him. If he isnt touching 95, he's useless. The rest of his arsenal isnt good enough to stand on its own.[/quote']

 

what bubble are you bursting? we signed the 2005 Cy Young winner for less cash than is between my couch cushions. theres zero risk and high reward

[example1]

what bubble are you bursting? we signed the 2005 Cy Young winner for less cash than is between my couch cushions. theres zero risk and high reward

 

This is pretty much the sentiment that seems appropriate. I've never been a huge Colon fan, but if the Yankees made this move I would applaud them for it.

 

Similar to Wade Miller, probably a higher upside--particularly since he's an experienced AL pitcher.

[Cityofchampions33]

Not to burst your bubble, but you're blowing smoke.

 

Rotowire had him at 87-89 mph on January 22, and Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register wrote that he was at 89-91 mph on January 24. At February 7 at BP, Derek Jacques wrote that Colon hit 92 mph in the Caribbean World Series. FWIW, Clay Davenport had him listed as the 11th-best starting pitcher of the Winter Leagues, despite his shock at seeing how the stats came out.

 

Bartolo Colon is good enough to stand a chance. Let's see how he does in real games with real hitters before we try to belittle his chances while we claim he's throwing 6 mph less than the radar guns are showing.

 

zing! beat me to the punch. my verdict is the same as everyone else's, little risk high reward, great move, etc.

[Cityofchampions33]

per Baseball HQ:

"Colon's high ERA last year was partially due to a 36% H% and 62% S%, so it's reasonable to expect some improvement. Plus, he raised his Dom to pre-injury levels. But that's about it for the good news from the 2007 season - his Ctl rose, and his FB% crept up to the 40% level. Even though his hr/f returned to a league-average value, his hr/9 remained high."

[riverside sluggers]

http://bostondirtdogs.boston.com/BDD_BC_redsox_2.24.08_sds.jpg

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

He might be able to help in relief' date=' too.[/quote']

 

I agree. I'm all for a guy who might hit mid-90s and can throw strikes coming out of the pen. Even if he can only get around 91-93 he can still be useful in the bullpen.

[BoSox21]

I just don't see how anyone can find this to be a bad move. I'm actually surprised the Sox were able to sign him for such little money and with a small likelyhood that he would make the opening day roster. Obviously his value has diminished significantly from 2-3 years ago but with the premium being put on pitching these days, you gotta figure someone would have had at least $5 mil and an opening day rotation spot available for him

[BSN07]

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2008/02/25/treading_lightly_here/

 

Maybe no deal at all.....

[Gom]

A non-move, but no risk to the Red Sox. No guaranteed money whatsoever. He's basically a poor man's Mike Mussina at this point.

[YAZMAN]

He's basically a poor man's Mike Mussina at this point.

 

Except he isn't being relied on to start every fifth day.

[Gom]

Except he isn't being relied on to start every fifth day.

Sadly true for us.

[eff u ova speedyquick]

i think colon is groing to win 30 games in the 5 spot of the rotation. he will be AL starting poitcher in the all star game. i am bold and it will happen

 

ROFLLLLLLL

[schillingouttheks]

i think colon is groing to win 30 games in the 5 spot of the rotation. he will be AL starting poitcher in the all star game. i am bold and it will happen

 

ROFLLLLLLL

 

ROFLCOPTER LOLLERSKATES LULZLZLUZUZLUZLZL

 

Seriously though, he wouldn't be a bad option out of the pen. Good depth signing. I feel like this keeps another Julian Tavarez experiment from happening again. It was successful last year, but I really don't feel like giving him the opportunity to fall back to earth in a starting role this year.

[VandaleIndustries]

Let's just hope Francona handles Colon better than Sosa was handled down here when he signed a minor league contract. hahaha. If he's got it, he's got it, but around the 5th or 6th time the ball hits him in the head, I think it's fair to say he's done (funniest head beaning of Sosa happened on Sammy Sosa night down at the ball park. hahaha).