Atlanta Braves

The Braves gambled $12.5 million on Bartolo Colon, hoping a pitcher who will turn 44 on May 24 had enough left in his arm to help stabilize their rotation and/or bring them a return on the July trade market. Instead, they got a guy who looks every bit that old.

Colon had two strong starts in the early weeks of the season but followed with a four-start span in which he allowed 23 runs in 21 2⁄3 innings for a 9.55 ERA. Colon gave up five runs before recording his first out May 9 at the Houston Astros.

“I was asking the Lord for some help to be able to get in four or five innings, just so I could help out the team and help out the bullpen,” Colon said.

The rest of the Braves rotation hasn’t been much better. The starters combined for a 9.39 ERA during a six-game losing streak.

The one positive in acquiring three veteran starters (Colon,

R.A. Dickey and Jaime Garcia) is that the Braves were able to give their pitching prospects more time in the minor leagues. That plan might be working.

Lucas Sims was named the Class AAA International League pitcher of the week in late April and had a 2.57 ERA for the season. Sean Newcomb wasn’t far behind with a 2.89 ERA, also at Class AAA Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Ga.), and 19-year-old Kolby

Allard had a 1.38 ERA at Class AA Mississippi (Pearl).

The Braves took a chance on a younger player when they added 26-year-old infielder-outfielder

Danny Santana in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.

Santana got rookie of the year votes in 2014 but fell off so much the Twins had designated him for assignment.