The Mets may have just found their Matt Harvey fill-in.
The team signed former Oakland A's ace Bartolo Colon, according to ESPNNewYork.com, citing a source.
The 40-year old Colon was signed to a two-year, $20 million contract. He will join the team pending a physical.
This is the latest in a string of free agent signings the Mets have made in the past few days. They have also signed outfielder Chris Young, 30, to a one year, $7.25 million contract. Most recently they added former New York Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson for four years, $60 million.
These moves may have Mets fans both happy and a little scared as each of the Mets signings are over 30 years old. However, each also have the potential to produce at a high level. Granderson had back-to-back 40-plus homer, 100-plus RBI seasons prior to this year's injury hampered season. Young has hit 30 plus homers in the past. Colon is coming of an 18-6, 2.65 ERA season.
The Mets will most likely look to improve their infield now. They may try to trade first baseman Ike Davis who is coming off another disappointing campaign. Sandy Alderson made it known he won't just let players go.
"Let me emphasize one thing: We're not in the business of giving players away," Alderson said. "We don't expect to get in that business."
The Mets have already spent $87.25 million this offseason - nearing the limit of $90 million they set for themselves according to Mets.com. The team also wants to add a veteran reliever.
"It's not just a question of 'What do we have to spend?' and 'How are we going to allocate those resources?" Alderson said according to tne Mets website. "It's also a question of value. As the cost continues to go up, generally speaking, the value continues to go down."
As the website points out, this may force the team to deal Daniel Murphy and Ike Davis if they are to improve their infield.
