Bartolo Colon Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding Mets Star

Updates from Wednesday, Aug. 27

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports has the latest update on if the Royals are interested in Bartolo Colon:

Peter Gammons of the MLB Network added the latest with Colon and the Dodgers:

Updates from Tuesday, Aug. 26

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports the latest on potential interest in Colon:

"

Bartolo Colon has cleared waivers, leaving us right back where we were a month ago -- with a trade possible, and similar factors standing in the way. Gathered from talking to folks around the league last night, here is where the situation stands:

-- There is still active interest in Colon. One American League executive identified that Angels, Dodgers and Royals as teams he expected to be most engaged.

“The Angels will be all over him,” the exec said. “They don't have many prospects, but I believe the Mets want to clear the money.”

Both L.A. teams are contenders with injury concerns in their rotations, though the Dodgers’ Hyun-Jin Ryu is getting healthy again, which will push Kevin Correia into the bullpen. The Angels, of course, lost Garrett Richards to a grisly leg injury. Kansas City remains a possibility, though they had no payroll flexibility last month, and might not have a fit in prospects, either.

"

Updates from Thursday, July 31

CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports at least three teams have considered trading for Bartolo Colon:

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The Orioles are a team that's checked in on Bartolo Colon, but the Mets don't seem to have decided whether to trade him yet.

The Giants and Mariners are among other teams that have been mentioned for Colon as possibilities.

"

Updates from Wednesday, July 30

ESPN's Jayson Stark provides the latest on Bartolo Colon:

Updates from Tuesday, July 29

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News provides details on rumors swirling around Mets pitcher Barolo Colon as the trade deadline approaches:

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A new possibility has emerged for the Mets’ Bartolo Colon, although it remains to be seen how serious it is. According to major league sources, the Kansas City Royals are considering making a run at one of Monday night’s starters in New York, Colon or Philadelphia’s A.J. Burnett.

 

This nugget comes with the significant caveat that the Royals might not be able to add the payroll necessary to acquire either pitcher. That will be determined over the next few days, but the team’s evaluators are said to like both veterans.

"

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports the latest on the market for Colon:

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Bartolo Colon, who brought huge trade returns in his prime years, doesn't appear to have a great market despite a very nice season with the Mets.

Mets GM Sandy Alderson suggested Monday to Mets writers that he wasn't necessarily expecting to make a deal. Colon has been viewed as the prime trade bait considering the Mets have a strong rotation and plenty of excellent starting options for next year.

"

Updates from Friday, July 25

Andy Martino of The New York Daily News has the latest on any potential Colon deal that might go down:

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The Bartolo Colon trade market is not yet scorching, but it is far too early to say that it won’t get there. When you zoom out and look around the league, you realize that teams waiting on David Price, Cliff Lee, and Ian Kennedy could easily turn to Colon on July 30 or 31.

In fact, if the Mets move Colon before the deadline, that is how it will probably go down, according to several executives briefed on the process: Right near the end, after teams know what is happening with the other three starters.

We are also told, via sources, that the Mets are willing to eat approximately $2 million what remains on Colon’s two-year, $20 million contract ($11 million next season). And given Colon’s current level of performance, it is not crazy to think he could find a one-year, $9 million deal this winter, if he were a free agent. Yeah, he’s 41, but he ain’t pitching like it.

"

Updates from Tuesday, July 22

ESPN's Adam Rubin provides an update on another team's pursuit of Bartolo Colon:

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Citing a source close to Bartolo Colon, ESPNDeportes.com's Marly Rivera reports that the San Francisco Giants have expressed interest in acquiring 41-year-old right-hander Bartolo Colon

"

Danny Knobler of ESPN has more on Colon:

Original Text

As the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaches, starting pitchers will continue to be the talk of the rumor mill. You can now add another name into the mix.    

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the New York Mets could move right-hander Bartolo Colon.

"The Mets are getting sniffs on Colon," writes Cafardo. "Like Jason Hammel and Brandon McCarthy, there will be teams trying to add value, experience, and middle-of-the-rotation depth if they can’t compete for the elite pitchers, such as David Price and Jon Lester."

The Mets are in a favorable position. They have plenty of starting pitchers to work with, and dealing a valuable veteran away in a year the team isn't expected to contend would bring back a decent haul.

Colon has been successful in the first year of his two-year, $20 million deal. While the hitting side of the game hasn't gone too well for a guy who hadn't swung a bat since 2002, the whole pitching thing has worked out quite well.

Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

The 41-year-old owns a 3.99 ERA, 3.66 FIP and 1.184 WHIP over 18 starts. In 121.2 innings pitched, Colon has struck out 89. As always, his control has been impeccable. Only 17 batters have reached base via the free pass.

Should he be dealt, a youngster like Rafael Montero or Noah Syndergaard could potentially take his place. That would usher in a new era of young pitching for the 2015 season, as Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey would create a strong core of starters.

Bleacher Report's Joe Giglio notes that a deal involving Colon is a great opportunity to get a look at those young pitchers:

Of course, nothing is imminent just yet. ESPN New York's Adam Rubin notes nothing is serious as of now:

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The Mets are not yet believed to be engaged in serious talks about Colon, and it is not a foregone conclusion that he will be dealt, but a major league source predicted dialogue would increase in the next week. An August trade remains possible, too, via a team making a waiver claim.

"

Plus, general manager Sandy Alderson's claims from earlier in the month have to be taken into account. The Mets could still very well be buyers at the deadline. At 45-50, this team could feasibly make a push. That prompted this from Alderson, via CBS New York:

"We kind of like our team. If you look at the run differential, we should be a .500 team. We’re not. At the same time, it doesn’t mean we should throw everyone overboard."

For teams that missed out on Jeff Samardzija and Hammel, Colon is a good option. Despite his age and contract for next season, Colon has a history of success and has continued his career rejuvenation with a strong first half.

With plenty of experience to offer to a contending club and an impressive level of production still at this stage of his career, he'd be an asset for any clubs in need of pitching help down the stretch.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR