Bartolo Colon is now a member of the Braves, a team he has owned over the last couple of years. Photo Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
The 43-year-old Colon owns a 232-162 record over 19 major league seasons. He has the third-most victories among Latin American pitchers behind Dennis Martinez (245) and Juan Marichal (243).
The agreement with Colon on Friday comes one day after Atlanta reached a deal with 42-year-old right-handed knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. Atlanta will become the first team with two starters in their 40s since the 1990 Texas Rangers (Nolan Ryan and Charlie Hough).
Colon went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA last season for the New York Mets. He was also named to the National League All-Star team.
Perhaps his most memorable moment of the season occurred on May 7 when he smacked a home run off James Shields, then with the San Diego Padres. The blast made Colon the oldest player in major league history to hit his first big-league homer.
–Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts underwent successful surgery on his right knee.
Betts, 24, is expected to make a full recovery in time for spring training, the team announced Friday.
Betts underwent right knee arthroscopy, chondroplasty, and a loose body removal on Thursday. The procedure was performed by head team orthopedist Dr. Peter Asnis at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Betts is among three finalists for the American League MVP Award after batting .318 with 31 home runs, 113 RBIs and 26 stolen bases this season.
–The Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a three-year contract extension with manager Craig Counsell.
The deal announced Friday will keep Counsell under contract with the club through the 2020 season.
“I am pleased that we have reached an agreement with Craig to keep him as our manager well into the future,” general manager David Stearns said in a statement. “Craig possesses the skillset, intelligence and determination to lead our team back to consistent competitiveness. Over the past year, I have observed Craig’s leadership first hand, and am confident that he is the right man for this job.”
The Brewers went 73-89 last season in Counsell’s first full season on the job. He has a 134-165 record since replacing Ron Roenicke in May 2015.
–The Toronto Blue Jays signed Cuban infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to a seven-year, $22 million deal, according to reports Friday.
The 23-year-old Gurriel defected from Cuba along with his older brother during the Caribbean Series in the Dominican Republic in February.
His brother, 32-year-old Yulieski Gurriel, signed a five-year, $48 million deal with the Houston Astros in July, and he hit .262 with three home runs and 15 RBIs in 36 games this season.
Lourdes Gurriel, who also played for the Havana Industriales before defecting, was declared a free agent in August. He had a .321 batting average with eight homers and 32 RBIs in 43 games.
–Howie Kendrick was unhappy with his role with Los Angeles, so the Dodgers did something about that by trading Kendrick to the Philadelphia Phillies for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney, the teams announced Friday.
The 33-year-old Kendrick, who can play second base or left field, will earn $10 million in 2017 and will be a free agent after the season. He becomes the Phillies’ highest-paid position player.
The Dodgers were able to rid themselves of a disgruntled player as well as a big salary. But Phillies general manage Matt Klentak was looking for players who were owed a lot of money and were on a short-term contract, according to philly.com.
Kendrick had his worst season in the majors in 2016, hitting .255 with eight homers and a .691 OPS. He hit over .290 each of his three previous seasons.
–The Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal with designated hitter Kendrys Morales on Friday, a move that points to the end of Edwin Encarnacion’s tenure with the franchise.
Morales, 33, batted .263 with 30 homers and 93 RBIs for the Kansas City Royals. It was the second 30-homer season of Morales’ career.
Toronto targeted the switch-hitting Cuban after negotiations with Encarnacion began to break down. Encarnacion is reportedly seeking a five-year, $125 million deal after matching his career high of 42 homers and setting a career best with 127 RBIs.
Morales has hit 162 career homers in a career that began in 2006. He has played for the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins and the Royals.
