Odds Bartolo Colon Makes MLB Comeback at Age 47 Set at +550; Over/Under on ERA Is an Inflated 5.20

• Bartolo Colon says he wants to make an MLB comeback and pitch one last season in The Show at the age of 47
• Big Sexy last pitched in the majors with the Texas Rangers in 2018. Does he have any game left at this stage?
• See the betting odds and Robert Duff’s prediction on Colon’s future

When it comes to pitching in the major leagues, Bartolo Colon isn’t quite ready to put a period at the end of his sentence.

Big Sexy, as the 285-pound right-hander is known, figures he’s still got something left in his heater. Colon hopes to again get the chance to heat up in a big league bullpen and make that walk to the mound.

Set to turn 47 on May 24, is his vision quest nothing more than a pipe dream? Might an MLB team with 2020 World Series aspirations see any value in adding another veteran arm to their pitching staff?

Among a series of props on a potential Colon return to the bigs, the odds are against this happening. He’s +550 to pitch in the MLB during the 2020 season.

Odds Bartolo Colon Plays in 2020 MLB Season

Odds taken May 20th.

Colon last pitched in the majors with the Texas Rangers during the 2018 season. He finished with a 7-12 record and 5.78 ERA in 146.1 innings pitched. Colon’s WHIP was 1.346.

His strikeouts per nine innings (5.0) were far off Colon’s 21-season career average of 6.6. However, his walks per nine innings (1.5) were well below his career pace of 2.5. On April 16, 2018, Colon took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Houston Astros.

It should be noted that he was 14-26 over his final two big-league campaigns. Those numbers followed a solid 15-8 campaign in 2016, Colon’s last of three seasons with the New York Mets.

He collected double-digit wins in each season between 2012-2016. That stretch was highlighted by an 18-6 season with the Oakland Athletics in 2013.

“Big Sexy” wants one more go at it!

46-year-old Bartolo Colon hopes to return to the MLB after not playing in 2019 and “is willing to go anywhere”, but preferably the @Mets. #MLBAtHome #Mets #NYM #MLB #BartoloColon pic.twitter.com/Av2NQO54fI

— Jose Mesa Corrales (@JoseTableESPN) May 18, 2020

As much as it seems unlikely that we’ll see Colon back in a big-league uniform, if the COVID-19-delayed season does get underway, pitching will be at a premium. There’s talk of teams carrying as many as 50 players on the roster.

Might a club be willing to roll the dice and take a chance on a 47-year-old hurler? Well, when he’s a three-time All-Star and the 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner, why not?

Pick: Yes (+550)

Over/Under Colon’s ERA in 2020

Colon’s career ERA is 4.12 but his ERA numbers have topped 5.00 in his last three big-league stops. Along with his 5.78 number for the Rangers in 2018, he had a 5.18 for the 2017 Minnesota Twins and 8.14 for the 2017 Atlanta Braves. That worked out to a combined 6.48.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OsG6FliBo

He may be blessed with a body that looks more like former pro wrestler Adrian Adonis than the Greek god Adonis but no one can question Colon’s durability. Over his last six MLB campaigns, he’s never started fewer than 24 games. Colon has averaged 28.37 starts per season through his past eight big-league seasons. Normally a blessing, more innings would be a curse for his ERA.

Pick: Over 5.25 (-120)

Over/Under Colon’s Strikeouts in 2020

Colon fanned 81 with the 2018 Rangers. That was his lowest total for a full season since he recorded 76 strikeouts with the 2007 Los Angeles Angels.

Compared to Satchel Paige, who pitched in the show at 59, Bartolo is a wee baby. Hoyt Wilhelm and Jamie Moyer both pitched in the majors at 49. Phil Niekro and Nick Altrock were 48 during their farewell seasons.

Colon is signed to pitch this season with the Monclova Acereros of the Mexican League, so big league scouts can assess his value.

Pick: Over 42.5 strikeouts (-120).