ATLANTA — Not content to add one 40-something starter, the Braves made it two by agreeing to terms with 43-year-old Bartolo Colon, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Friday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement is expected from the Braves until next week on the reported $12.5 million, one-year deal with Colon.
The agreement is subject to a physical and comes one day after the Braves said they had an agreement with 42-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.
MLB.com first reported the Colon deal, which includes a team option for 2018.
Colon went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA for the New York Mets this season. He was picked for the All-Star Game and memorably became the oldest player in baseball history to hit his first career homer when he went deep at San Diego on May 7.
Still, Colon and Dickey both fit what the Braves were hoping to add as they prepare to move into SunTrust Park: experienced starters who could eat up innings and not require the sort of long-term contracts that would hamper payroll flexibility and stymie the growth of the organization’s plethora of promising young pitchers.
Phillies acquire Kendrick
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies got the veteran hitter they wanted.
Howie Kendrick was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday for first baseman Darin Ruf and utilityman Darnell Sweeney.
“Howie Kendrick brings a proven, veteran presence to our young lineup,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “He is a hard worker, a great teammate and a true professional hitter. In addition, Howie’s defensive versatility provides significant flexibility to our roster, which should prove to be valuable to our club in 2017.”
A 2011 AL All-Star, Kendrick hit .255 with 26 doubles, eight home runs, 40 RBIs, a team-leading 10 stolen bases and a .326 on-base percentage for the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33-year-old Kendrick made 123 starts — 79 in left field, 23 at second base, 14 at third base and seven at first base — and made only five errors.
Brewers extend Counsell
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers and manager Craig Counsell announced a three-year contract extension through the 2020 season Friday.
The 46-year-old Counsell just finished his first full season as skipper. He has a 134-165 record since taking over in May 2015 for the fired Ron Roenicke. The rebuilding Brewers finished 73-89 this past season, a five-win improvement from 2015.
A former infielder, Counsell played 16 years in the majors, including six seasons over two different stints with the Brewers.
Counsell grew up in the Milwaukee area. His father, John, worked in the Brewers front office in the 1980s.
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