Will Bartolo Colon be back in 2017?

By Djack

Photo Via USA Today

" Who would have ever figured this? Bartolo Colon, at age 43, may be the healthiest member of the New York Mets rotation, at least among the planned contributors.
And given the craziness involving the rest of the starting pitchers, it now seems a no-brainer that free-agent-to-be Colon ought to be back with the Mets for a 20th major league season in 2017.
"With or without craziness, he could be," general manager Sandy Alderson said." -Adam Rubin ESPN

Okay, I love big sexy as much as the next guy, but in all honesty, I can't see this happening. Colon definitely could pitch again next year physically because he's still got it, he's proven time and time again he can get batters out simply with command. The fact of the matter is, he's going to be 44 years old, he's clearly not in tip top physical shape, and the Mets have an an abundance of young pitchers. Next season they will have, Matt Harvey, Thor, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, and now it looks like Lugo and Gsellman could be viable options as well. The Mets are going to take youth over experience anyday, whether Sandy will tell us that or not doesn't matter because when it's time to offer Bartolo the contract, he won't. Only way I see Bart staying in New York is if the Mets look to trade a young pitcher or two away for some position players. I can't see that happening so I don't see Bart staying, I'd love to see him come back for his 20th season, but it seems far fetched to say the least.