Mets' right-hander Bartolo Colon is eligible to be traded to any team after clearing waivers and is already drawing significant trade interest, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Martino notes that the Angels, Dodgers and Royals are among the possible destinations for Colon before the August 31 waiver trade deadline.
The Mets are targeting both prospects and salary relief in a deal for Colon, according to Martino, but may be content to keep the right-hander until the offseason when 29 teams will believe that they are in contention and could use a veteran starter for 2015. At the moment, only injury-ravaged clubs like the Angels and Dodgers are expressing interest, with most other teams being satisfied with their rotations for the stretch run. The Pirates and Athletics have also been mentioned as potential destinations in other reports.
Though the Angels seem like the best fit for Colon following season-ending injuries to starters Tyler Skaggs and Garrett Richards, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports that they don't appear to be going hard after Colon at the moment. After dealing four prospects out of an already-weak system in the Huston Street deal last month, the Angels have little to work with in their farm system that would interest the Mets, who would likely be able to get a strong package back for the 41-year old Colon if they ate some of his salary in a deal.
Colon has been solid this season, pitching to a 12-10 record and 3.82 ERA in his first season in the National League since 2002. He is owed $11 million for next season, meaning that the Mets would enjoy the salary relief that would come as a result of trading him.