The New York Yankees have signed a former Cy Young winner who was once a Cleveland Indian. Unfortunately for the Yankees, that pitcher is not Cliff Lee, but Bartolo Colon.
The Yankees have in fact signed the soon-to-be 38-year-old to a one-year, $900K minor league deal, according to Jon Joel Shermon of the New York Post.
Ironically, Colon was once traded for the Cy Young Award winner New York really wanted. Back in 2002 the Montreal Expos, sent Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips and Grady Sizemore to Cleveland for the 20-game winner in what has to be one of the greatest trades in Indian history.
Colon, who last pitched in the majors in 2009 for the White Sox, has the right to be released if he doesn't make the team after spring training.
In 12 games for Chicago, Colon posted a 4.19 ERS with 5.9K/9. Prior to pitching for the White Sox, Colon made a stop in Boston — starting 6 games for the Sox.
Most recently, Colon was pitching for Criollos de Caguas of the Dominican Winter League, where he managed to catch eye of Yankee bench coach Tony Pena, who was impressed by Colon, who went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA in seven starts.
Colon will join a cast of low-risk reclamation projects in the Bronx that includes Andrew Jones and Mark Prior.
