Arizona Diamondbacks Reportedly Interested in Free Agent Bartolo Colon

The D-Backs have shown some interest in former Yankee starter Bartolo Colon to man the fifth spot in the rotation a year after he revived his career to a certain extent. He did a great job at the back of the Yankees' rotation, which is where he would be slotted in Arizona.

The team has been looking for a veteran to balance out the amount of youth in the pitching staff by trying to work a deal with Joe Saunders and Hiroki Kuroda. Both deals fell through because Saunders was asking for a multi-year deal around $8 million per year and Kuroda was too indecisive.

The Diamondbacks had an offer of roughly $13 million for one year on the table for the Japanese right-hander for about 10 days. The team got tired of waiting and instead signed free-agent slugger Jason Kubel.

Colon would be a nice addition to the young rotation of the D-Backs and would be expected to post around a 4.00 ERA and throw around 175 innings after he through 164 1/3 last season. A pretty accurate summary of what a fifth starter should be. He will more than likely come cheap as well; the Yankees had him on a Minor League contract at the beginning of last season.

General Manager Kevin Towers and Manager Kirk Gibson will have to weigh the situation against the possible options they have in-house. Whether or not Colon is better than a Wade Miley or a Barry Enright will be up for debate in the decision-making process.