Contract Crowdsourcing 2013-14: Bartolo Colon

Free agency begins five days after the end of the World Series. As in other recent offseasons, FanGraphs is once again facilitating this offseason a contract-crowdsourcing project, the idea being to harness the wisdom of the crowds to the end of better understanding the 2013-14 free-agent market.

Note that, this year, in addition to asking readers to estimate the years/dollars each free agent is likely to receive, FanGraphs is also requesting that readers make note of how much they’d pay each free agent were they, themselves, actual GMs.

In this edition: Bartolo Colon.

Some relevant information regarding Colon:

  • Has averaged 169.0 IP and 3.0 WAR over last three seasons.
  • Has averaged 3.2 WAR per 180 IP over last three seasons.
  • Recorded a 3.9 WAR in 190.1 IP in 2013.
  • Is entering his age-41 season.
  • Made $3.0M in 2013, as part of deal signed in offseason.

Using the form below, estimate the years and average annual dollar values both likely and ought to be received by Colon this offseason.

Other Players: Bronson Arroyo / Carlos Beltran / A.J. Burnett / Marlon Byrd / Robinson Cano / Shin-Soo Choo / Nelson Cruz / David DeJesus / Stephen Drew / Mark Ellis / Jacoby Ellsbury / Curtis Granderson / Omar Infante / Adam Lind / James Loney / Brian McCann / Nate McLouth / Kendrys Morales / David Murphy / Mike Napoli / A.J. Pierzynski / Carlos Ruiz / Jarrod Saltalamacchia / Juan Uribe / Chris Young.

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20 Comments
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Alex D
12 years ago

Colon is hard pitcher to value. He has been very good this year but he’s over 40 and honestly I keep wondering when he will get hit with another PED suspension. I’d give him 1 year at 3 Mil again.

JayT
12 years ago

I’d stick with a one year deal, but I’d be willing to go $10 million on him. He’s been really good the last three years, and it’s not like he’s depending on a big fastball to do it, so one extra year of aging doesn’t worry me that much.

Alex D
12 years ago
Reply to  JayT

Colon through more fastballs than any other qualified starter this year (percentage wise that is). His fastball sits in the mid 90s. He totally relies on “a big fastball”

LeeTro
12 years ago
Reply to  Alex D

Or his fastball averaged 89.9 this year… You’re on the wrong site to not check your facts first.

Alex D
12 years ago
Reply to  LeeTro

Source please.

I see his FB velocity is over 90 mph over the last three years. 91.2 this year buddy….

source: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=375&position=P

I guess your on the wrong site.

Lee TrocinskiMember since 2016
12 years ago
Reply to  LeeTro

Ok, you got me. I used the BIS data that combines 2 and 4-seamers. Still, averaging 91.2 is not sitting in the mid-90s.

yolo
12 years ago
Reply to  Alex D

Right, but he doesn’t depend on velocity, he depends on the movement in his two seam (which is kind of crazy). His 4seam averages 92 but can reach 94, his 2seam is around 89-90. There could be velocity loss on his 4 seam, but I don’t seem much coming off of the 2seam.

Alex D
12 years ago
Reply to  yolo

Honestly I did not expect this but he has been loosing more velocity off the 2seam FB than his 4seam FB over the last three years. He’s been losing an average of 1 mph of his 2seamer per year and .45 mph of his 4seamer per year. That being said, I agree with you that loosing velocity off the 2seamer is less of an issue as it is a more movement dependent pitch than the 4seam FB.

Tim
12 years ago
Reply to  yolo

@ Alex D: “lose” not “loose. “You’re” not “your”

rageon
12 years ago
Reply to  yolo

Is there a way to down-vote like 4,000 times every post correcting someone’s grammar?

Common Sense
12 years ago
Reply to  yolo

To be fair I can’t stand it every time I see loose. Insure bugs me as well–that means to buy insurance people!

FeslenR
12 years ago

One year deal at $6M no more.

LaLoosh
12 years ago
Reply to  FeslenR

this.

yolo
12 years ago

Obviously he deserves a raise, but I wouldn’t go higher than 1 year, 8 million. Maybe two years.

MustBunique
12 years ago

Abstain, no option for zero years. I think offering a contract to a 42 year old starting pitcher is too risky. That money would be better spent elsewhere.

MustBunique
12 years ago
Reply to  MustBunique

Sorry, 41. Still too much risk.

LONNIE
12 years ago

I would go 1-year with the contract heavy(no pun intended Mr. Colon)on incentives. Say about 5 mil with another 5 million in incentives.

Mikey
12 years ago

10 years 250 mil take it or leave it Bartolo

Dayton Moore
12 years ago
Reply to  Mikey

Too old and fat. 5 years 75 mil would be more realistic

miketroutfan
12 years ago

Production depends heavily on the defense he’s provided with.