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Bartolo Colon has no plans to retire like A-Rod

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Bartolo Colon says he doesn’t care how the Mets use him this season, he just wants to help the team.Chris O’Meara/AP

Bartolo Colon says he doesn’t care how the Mets use him this season, he just wants to help the team.

DUNEDIN — Bartolo Colon joked around with former teammate Alex Rodriguez before the game Tuesday night about being one of the “old guys.” Wednesday, after Rodriguez announced his plans to retire after the 2017 season, the ageless Mets righthander laughed at the idea of hanging up his spikes.

The 42-year-old Colon said he will pitch as long as he is healthy, and wondered if A-Rod would change his mind.

“For me, I am not worried about it,” said Colon, who threw six scoreless inning against the Blue Jays. “I take it year by year. We’ll see what happens for me.

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“For Alex, I guess we’re going to see what happens with him between now and then.”

Colon, with a diminished fastball, has been able to hold off time with his pinpoint command, which was on display Wednesday when he scattered three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out six.

“I was very happy, obviously I was happy I was throwing strikes,” Colon said. “I like to think I throw a lot of strikes, but there were a lot more today. And (strikes) with my changeup, which is something I was really working on.”

That is the Colon the Mets are hoping to see in the first half of the season.

They have him in the rotation as they wait for Zack Wheeler to complete his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Colon went 14-13 last season with a 4.16 ERA in the regular season, amassing 12 of those wins against the dregs of the NL East (four wins each against the Phillies, Braves and Marlins). He went 1-12 against better teams and accepted a role in the bullpen for the playoffs.

The Mets can get Colon through July starting mostly against struggling teams like the Phillies, Indians, Braves, Padres and Rockies and limit how many games against the Nationals and other contending National League teams he starts against.

“Early in the year he’s a perfect guy because he pounds the strike zone and hitters are still feeling their way,” Terry Collins said. “You look up his numbers early in the seasons and they’re pretty impressive because he throws a lot of strikes and I’m not sure guys are ready to hit.

Then he will work out of the bullpen with occasional spot starts when Wheeler is back, the Mets manager explained. Wheeler is expected to be back in July.

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Colon, who enters the season with 218 career wins and is just one behind Pedro Martinez among Dominican-born pitchers, signed a one-year deal with the Mets knowing he is not guaranteed any number of starts. He will work out of the bullpen and get some spot starts.

“If everybody’s healthy, you’ve got a legitimate guy you can stick in the rotation,” Collins said. “It makes a big difference. He’s a veteran who’s not gonna be fazed… when you need an extra pitcher, he can handle it.”

A-Rod and Bartolo Colon as teammates in 2011.Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

A-Rod and Bartolo Colon as teammates in 2011.

Colon enjoyed his first two seasons with the Mets and cited playing for Collins as one of the reasons he wanted to return. He knew coming in that his role would be changing.

“I don’t think about that at all, they will do what they want to do with me and I trust them,” Colon said. “I just want to help the team out.”

In 18 years in the major leagues, Colon has made 467 starts and eight appearances out of the bullpen. It does not faze him and is something he would consider to continue his career.

“God willing as long as I stay healthy,” Colon said, “I’d be open to that.”

Turning 43 in May, Colon cannot deny that he has thought about retiring.

“You could say the thought has crossed my mind, but as soon as the offseason hits, you just can’t wait to be back,” Colon said. “This is my job and I want to be back with my job and my teammates, because they are like my family.”

Colon has watched his former peers and teammates leave the game, but he has no plans to join them anytime soon.

Tags:
new york mets ,
new york yankees ,
mlb ,
alex rodriguez ,
bartolo colon

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