MLB notebook: Rangers, Colon nearing minors deal

[February 05, 2018]  The Texas Rangers are closing in on signing 44-year-old right-hander Bartolo Colon to a minor league deal, according to multiple reports Saturday.

The proposed minor league pact would include an invite to major league spring training, according to MLB.com.

Colon, a 20-year veteran, posted a 6.48 ERA in 28 starts between the Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins last season. However, the right-hander was an All-Star with the New York Mets as recently as 2016, when he went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA in 34 games (33 starts).

Colon's 240 major league wins are five shy of tying Dennis Martinez's record for a Latin American-born pitcher and three shy of tying Juan Marichal's mark for a Dominican-born hurler.

--Houston Astros right-hander Ken Giles won his arbitration case against the club despite his woeful postseason performance.

Giles was awarded his request for $4.6 million over the team's $4.2 million offer.

Giles had a solid regular season in 2017 but was racked for a porous 11.74 ERA in 7 2/3 innings and lost his closer role during Houston's run to the World Series title. He had a 27.00 ERA during the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

--Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Roberto Osuna lost his arbitration case against the club.

Osuna will earn $5.3 million in 2018, a figure nearly 10 times greater than last season's $552,400 salary. He requested $5.8 million.

Osuna, who turns 23 on Wednesday, went 3-4 with a 3.38 ERA and 39 saves last season. He struck out 83 in 64 innings and made the American League All-Star team. However, his 10 blown saves led the majors.

--Field Level Media

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