45-year-old pitcher Bartolo Colon says he intends to keep playing in 2019, Fancred’s Jon Heyman reports. This backs up what Colon said back in August. If he does, 2019 will represent his 22nd season in the majors.
Colon has put up poor numbers in each of the last two seasons, finishing 2017 (with the Braves and Twins) with a 6.48 ERA and 2018 (with the Rangers) at 5.78. Last year’s 12.9 percent strikeout rate was his lowest since 2006 and his fastball registered at just 87.4 MPH on average.
It would seem unlikely that Colon would be able to fetch a major league deal, but he will probably be able to find work if he’s willing to accept a minor league contract. Colon could latch on with a team that is in a rebuilding mode and simply needs a veteran to soak up some innings.