Colon does a good job of limiting the walks and I think he could have done quite well in a park that limits the homers. I don't think this is a great fit.

Not to question Impacto Deportivo, but unless this a minor-league deal, it doesn't make much sense. Floyd is out of options, and I doubt they're going to send Danks to Triple-A after the baptism by fire last year.

"Colon will likely compete with Gavin Floyd for the #5 spot in the rotation."

Wow, that should be a pretty tough one to win.

Wow, that should be a pretty tough one to win.

Depends. After going to the bullpen for a short stint there, he came back to post a 3.55 ERA over 45 2/3 innings, and he shut down the Tigers a couple times. A lot of that had to do with shaving 1 1/2 walks off his BB/9IP rate.

Don Cooper supposedly simplified his delivery by keeping his hands down during the windup, instead of bringing them over his head. Maybe that's a reason, or maybe it's coincidence while he put up good numbers in garbage time.

At any rate, I think the reasons to be optimistic about Floyd outnumber those for Colon.

This is one of those deals that doesn't seem to make a lick of sense for either the player or the team.

Colon needs to go to a team that can give him great support across the board (offense, defense, bullpen) in a pitchers' park so that he can hopefully stay healthy long enough to put together 12-15 wins with a decent ERA so that he can land a three-year contract from some idiot GM. It's a longshot in any event, but I don't see how he can possibly hope to do it with the White Sox.

As for Chicago, I don't understand what their fascination is with Colon. They've got better options and the likelihood that Colon somehow rediscovers the magic is next-to-nothing. It's like when the Giants sign Russ Ortiz last year: what's the point???

I would severely hope he has improved since his days in Philadelphia because he completely didn't work out there and he appeared to be a completely broken pitcher, mentally. If he got his head on straight, Floyd had that #1 prospect potential but after a poor MLB outing his AAA numbers suffered as well.

If this is something cheap I don't see how this can be a bad deal for the ChiSox. It was only two years ago he was winning the Cy. Granted, lots have changed since then - like his waistline - but he has an arm with incredible natural ability. Its not going to kill them to take the chance

MM1f -

Colon has battled major shoulder, elbow and knee injuries since his hi-jacked CYA in 2005. He was topping out at about 91-92 for 50 pitches, then regressing to the upper 80's. He doesn't have the location to pitch with Greg Maddux velocity and without the high K-rates and ability to throw in the upper 90's he doesn't have much to offer. His FB doesn't have the movement in the high 80's that it seemed to have in the mid 90's, and as much as he battled in 2006-07 he just didn't have too much to offer.

I am an Angel fan that watched with great sadness as he battled hard the last two years to regain that zip on his FB. It never happened and reports of his auditions this winter haven't made me think anything changed since November. Sad to say, I think he is done. He isn't the same guy you are remembering.

Fleece, eh? I know somebody who's beating off to their site stats tonight.

"Colon has battled major shoulder, elbow and knee injuries since his hi-jacked CYA in 2005. He was topping out at about 91-92 for 50 pitches, then regressing to the upper 80's"

As I said, lots have changed but it sounds like this is an incentives based deal, so little guaranteed money. Most guys you bring in on the cheap have no potential to ever be great. At least Colon has shown at one point, recently, that he has that in him. Yes, he is a shell of what he was just 2 years ago but at least there is some potential there which is alot more thanyou can say about most people you get with cheap deals.

If Colon is getting 6 mil or something I will retract my statement

I'm OK with this, though I'd rather have Lohse, even if it means signing him for two or three more years than Colon. I don't think the Sox are expecting too much out of him; if he can throw 150-175 innings with a 90 ERA+, I'll be happy. If he really is toast, he can be replaced by Haeger/Floyd/Broadway/Egbert.

I'm more worried about Contreras anyway...

As mentioned previously, Colon has become primarily a command pitcher who can occasionally still hump it up for a few innings or even most of a game. Given that his command is pretty decent, this isn't his main issue right now.

Aside from not having a solid off-speed pitch, Colon's problem is the six-month long baseball season, and the fact that he's likely to miss at least two or three of them. He opted for rehab over surgery, and it's showing. CHW should consider itself extremely fortunate if Colon is able to start 15 games. And in that park, opposing hitters should REALLY feel fortunate...

Maybe they're planning to flip Colon at the deadline to Omar Minaya for Jeff Liefer, Orlando Hernandez and Rocky Biddle.

If this is something cheap I don't see how this can be a bad deal for the ChiSox.

I don't either. Take the flyer, if it's clear he's got nothing you've lost, what, 4 weeks of Spring Training? Wow.

I'm more worried about Contreras anyway...

Did I read correctly that Contreras's wife served him with divorce papers on opening day last year, right before he took the mound? Vindictive much?

He was fine in August and September (3.57 ERA, 2:1 K/BB ratio, allowed only 6 HRs in 63-1/3 innings), which at least gives a little hope. Even though a Colon deal wouldn't be for much money (if it even happens -- I've heard this rumor is BS), I'd prefer that the White Sox use any open spots in the rotation on Floyd, Haeger, Broadway, and Egbert.

Remember when Ozzie was making comments on Miguel Cabrera's weight? Wonder how this will play out...

I'd prefer that the White Sox use any open spots in the rotation on Floyd, Haeger, Broadway, and Egbert.

From what I've read, Broadway has no fastball and is nothing more than a AAAA pitcher. Egbert is a sinker guy, so you may get lucky and have him have an insanely high GB/FB ratio. If he doesn't, he's nothing more than a AAAA pitcher either. Floyd's worth a shot, only because he's shown talent in the past. I don't think that Williams and Guillen will ever give Haeger a fair shake (they haven't yet) just because he's unconventional, and Williams and Guillen pretty much followed conventional wisdom.

This is one of the reasons that Williams shook up the scouting last year. All these first round pitchers, and none of them are even making the majors.

The trade that so far has killed the Sox has been the Garland one. All the others are somewhat defensible, but getting rid of a #3 starter that's going to give you 200+ IP of at least league average ball is not easy to replace, especially when all you get in return is a position that you already have a player for.

Ozzie says he hasn't spoken with Colon's people in weeks.

I think the reasons to be optimistic about Floyd outnumber those for Colon.

I think so too, but that doesn't mean Colon isn't a good risk. It might be 8-1 against him getting his good fastball back, but if he does, there's no reason to believe he won't return to being a five- or six-win pitcher. And with Colon, it's easy : you put the gun on him and if he doesn't have the juice, you DL him for more "rehab".