Colon is hopeful that Amazin’s will bring ‘Sexy’ back
Bartolo Colon wants to pitch for the Mets again.
Colon, who turns 47 next week, told ESPN he hopes to pitch one more big-league season and that it would be Amazin’ to end up back with the Mets, where he pitched from 2014-16.
“That Mets team was really something special,” Colon said of his time in Flushing, which included a trip to the World Series in 2015.
“I’ve played with [11] teams, but with the
Mets, the way all those players treated me, how that entire franchise treated me, from the front office to the kitchen staff, it was amazing. And Mets fans are the best. In the beginning, when they laughed at me every time my helmet fell off, at first I felt uncomfortable. But when I saw how much the fans enjoyed it, I asked for a bigger batting helmet so that it would fall more because it was so much fun for them!
“If it was up to me, I would retire with the Mets. I would like my career to end in New York.”
But Colon hasn’t pitched in the majors since he went 7-12 with a 5.78 ERA in 2018 with the Rangers. The 2005 American League Cy Young winner with the Angels has played 21 seasons, including a stint with the Yankees in 2011.
“I thought that last year maybe I would have the opportunity,” Colon said. “I know that if it didn’t happen last year, this year would be less likely. I’m getting older and the game is all about the young pitchers coming up. When you get older, teams no longer need your services.”
It seems unlikely many teams would have interest in the 5-foot-11, 285-pound righty, who became a fan favorite with the Mets and was dubbed “Big Sexy” by Noah Syndergaard. Colon included the origin story of his “Big Sexy” nickname in his book, “Big Sexy: In His Own Words,” in which he also speaks out on his 50game suspension in 2012 for violating MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The fourtime All-Star, who tested positive for testosterone, referred to the suspension as the “most difficult” moment of his career.