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MLB Free Agency: Top Five Starting Pitchers

By Jason Evans

Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) pitches during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (44) pitches during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Bartolo Colon

The MLB GIF king begins our top five. He may turn 44 next May, but Bartolo Colon can still be effective and be a part of an MLB rotation.

Colon was supposed to be insurance for the Mets with Zack Wheeler coming back from Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, Wheeler never made it back in 2016 and the Mets needed Colon more than they thought. All Colon did was make the All-Star team last year, win 15 games, have an ERA of 3.43 and almost pitch 200 innings. He still has a WAR close to 3.0.

Colon’s velocity is down, which is of course what happens when you are as old as he is, but he makes you put the ball in play. He only walked 32 last year, so you have to swing against him.

I wouldn’t give him a multi-year deal, but a one-year deal to eat some innings and provide some leadership for 2017 can really help a club. He’s done that with the Mets since his arrival so there’s no reason to think he couldn’t do that again.

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