White Sox Sign Bartolo Colon to One-Year Deal – Ken Williams Still Rules

January 15, 2009 By 3 Comments

Chicago White Sox sign Bartolo Colon to one-year dealQuick hitter about my beloved Chicago White Sox in what has been a pretty quiet offseason.

It was announced last night that the White Sox signed hefty righty Bartolo Colon to a one-year deal. Colon pitched on the South Side back in 2003 and was an absolute horse. He pitched 242 innings and went 15-13 with a 3.87 ERA. After falling off the baseball map, Colon pitched 7 games last year for the Red Sox, going 4-2 with a 3.92 ERA.

My gut reaction: I like the move.

The top of the White Sox rotation is in order with Mark Buehrle, Gavin Floyd and John Danks. Two lefties and a righty with a disgusting curveball. I would stack the top of the White Sox rotation up against anyone in the AL and feel pretty good about my chances. The back end of the rotation, is far more questionable.

Clayton Richard showed some promise at the end of last year, and is in a mix with Jeff Marquez, Lance Broadway, and Aaron Poreda for the final two spots; at least, that’s how it looks heading into Spring Training. (And remember that heading into Spring Training last year, Greatest Baseball Player Ever Carlos Quentin was expected to be in the minors). Bartolo Colon will now be in the mix with these young pups for the final rotation spot.

Unless Colon comes to camp at 400 pounds or eats Ozzie Guillen, I feel pretty confident that he’ll man the 4th spot in the rotation. I am optimistic about the pitchers the White Sox have in the minors, but I am also optimistic that we have a team capable of winning the AL Central again. Bartolo Colon, if he is right, will be an innings-eater who will help keep the bullpen fresh. He keeps you in games and gives you a chance a win, even if he is not the same dominating pitcher he once was. Ken Williams, White Sox sign Bartolo Colon to one-year deal

Plus, it is a one-year deal. While moronic franchises like the Yankees continue to not learn from their mistakes and dole out long-term deals to pitchers, Ken Williams has gone the more prudent route of finding a quality major league starter for a minimum amount of $$$ and risk. Would I like to have CC Sabathia? Sure, who wouldn’t? But for 6-7 years at $150-200 million? I don’t think any pitcher is worth that…and history has proven it.

How’s Barry Zito working out in S.F.?

So while this move won’t make a huge splash, and could very well be meaningless by April if Colon sucks or gets injured, I applaud it. Ken Williams has earned plenty of leeway with me and I will almost always give him the benefit of the doubt. I’m excited about this signing, and think it could give the White Sox one of the deepest top 4s of any pitching staff in baseball.

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Filed Under: MLB Tagged With: bartolo colon, Chicago White Sox, ken williams
About Jerod Morris

A proud graduate of Indiana University, Jerod Morris founded Midwest Sports Fans in August of 2008 and has been its Managing Editor every day since. Follow him on Twitter (@JerodMorris) for MSF updates, sports discussion, and a compelling daily assortment of funny and interesting links.
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  • KVB

    I like the move. Especially the one year contract. He could throw a lot of much needed innings to keep other fresh. After losing Contreras you could see we were in dire straits, starters and relievers.

  • http://www.midwestsportsfans.com JRod

    @KVB, I miss Contreras. Best case scenario for me is Buerhle, Floyd, Danks, Colon prove to be a great 1-4 punch and one of the young guys emerges as a solid 5th starter and gains some valuable experience. Then Contreras comes back late in the year with a fresh arm to pitch solid innings as we look at the Twins, Indians, and Tigers in the rearview on our way to another don’t-stop-believing playoff run.

  • Kaner

    Kenny Williams working the one year contract….I love a GM in the driver’s seat. Colon, we’ll see. I like the fact that he’s scrapping for this job with the young guns…He’s got to be praying that he doesn’t lose his job to a dude named Lance Broadway.
    Lance Broadway? Jesus Christ. Go do porn, buddy. Don’t ef the southsiders this year.