Cleveland Indians: Former Tribe-hurler Bartolo Colon makes history

Former Cleveland Indians hurler Bartolo Colon set Major-League history Sunday with the Minnesota Twins.

Former Cleveland Indians ace Bartolo Colon became the 18th pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams Sunday. In the Minnesota Twins 12-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colon went six innings. The veteran-righty surrendered four earned runs on seven hits.

Despite allowing three home runs, the 44-year-old better known as “Big Sexy” picked up career win No. 238. Performance-enhancing drugs aside, it’s impossible to not love Colon.

The former-Cy Young winner was spectacular in an Indians uniform. For five-and-a-half seasons, Colon provided plenty of memorable moments (all statistics according to Baseball-Reference.com).

Standard Pitching
Year	Age	Tm	W	L	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	IP	ER	SO	WHIP	Awards
1997	24	CLE	4	7	5.65	17	1	0	94.0	59	66	1.617
1998	25	CLE	14	9	3.71	31	6	2	204.0	84	158	1.392	AS
1999	26	CLE	18	5	3.95	32	1	1	205.0	90	161	1.273	CYA-4
2000	27	CLE	15	8	3.88	30	2	1	188.0	81	212	1.388
2001	28	CLE	14	12	4.09	34	1	0	222.1	101	201	1.394
2002	29	CLE	10	4	2.55	16	4	2	116.1	33	75	1.160
			W	L	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	IP	ER	SO	WHIP	Awards
			75	45	3.92	160	15	6	1029.2	448	873	1.363

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

An all-star in 1998, Colon continued to establish his presence as one of the elite arms in the American League. In 2002, it was obvious the Indians were on the verge of a complete rebuild. With Colon off to the best start of his career, one of the greatest trades in Indians’ history was executed by then-general manager Mark Shapiro.

The 2002-blockbuster move at the deadline with the Montreal Expos provided the Indians with an abundance of young talent, all in exchange for Colon and Tim Drew. The Tribe’s haul included prospects, such as: 2B Brandon Phillips, OF Grady Sizemore, SP Cliff Lee and MLB-veteran OF Lee Stevens. Parting ways with a 29-year-old Colon was a major blow to a fanbase riding the 1990s high, but take a peak at Shapiro’s prospective return-on-investment:

Brandon Phillips

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2002	21	CLE	11	31	5	8	3	1	0	4	0	3	6	.258	.343	.419	.762
2003	22	CLE	112	370	36	77	18	1	6	33	4	14	77	.208	.242	.311	.553
2004	23	CLE	6	22	1	4	2	0	0	1	0	2	5	.182	.250	.273	.523
2005	24	CLE	6	9	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	.000	.000	.000	.000
			135	432	43	89	23	2	6	38	4	19	92	.206	.246	.310	.556

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Because then-Tribe manager Eric Wedge didn’t like Phillips, in 2006 the Indians shipped Phillips to the Cincinnati Reds for Jeff Stevens — a no-name relief prospect. Therefore, Tribe fans never saw Phillips blossom into the all-star he was destined to become.

Three all-star games, four Gold Gloves and nearly 2,000 hits later, it’s safe to say the Indians misjudged Phillips. Still, talent remained in the Colon deal.

Grady Sizemore

Standard Batting
Year	Age	Tm	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Awards
2004	21	CLE	43	138	15	34	6	2	4	24	2	14	34	.246	.333	.406	.739
2005	22	CLE	158	640	111	185	37	11	22	81	22	52	132	.289	.348	.484	.832	MVP-23
2006	23	CLE	*162*	655	*134*	190	53	11	28	76	22	78	153	.290	.375	.533	.907	AS,MVP-11
2007	24	CLE	*162*	628	118	174	34	5	24	78	33	101	155	.277	.390	.462	.852	AS,MVP-12,GG
2008	25	CLE	157	634	101	170	39	5	33	90	38	98	130	.268	.374	.502	.876	AS,MVP-10,GG,SS
2009	26	CLE	106	436	73	108	20	6	18	64	13	60	92	.248	.343	.445	.788
2010	27	CLE	33	128	15	27	6	2	0	13	4	9	35	.211	.271	.289	.560
2011	28	CLE	71	268	34	60	21	1	10	32	0	18	85	.224	.285	.422	.706
			892	3527	601	948	216	43	139	458	134	430	816	.269	.357	.473	.830

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Sizemore was arguably the best player in baseball between 2006-2008. During the three-year run, Sizemore slashed .279/.380/.499, averaged 31 stolen bases, 28 home runs and 81 RBI. He also made three-consecutive all-star games (2006-2008), won two Gold Gloves (2007, 2008) and won the Silver Slugger in 2008.

Then, Sizemore’s body completely broke down. Know for his reckless abandon in the outfield, a bevy of injuries forced his sharp decline. But his production, despite getting cut short, is a positive of the deal.

Cliff Lee

Standard Pitching
Year	Age	Tm	W	L	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	IP	ER	SO	WHIP	Awards
2002	23	CLE	0	1	1.74	2	0	0	10.1	2	6	1.355
2003	24	CLE	3	3	3.61	9	0	0	52.1	21	44	1.166
2004	25	CLE	14	8	5.43	33	0	0	179.0	108	161	1.503
2005	26	CLE	18	5	3.79	32	1	0	202.0	85	143	1.218	CYA-4
2006	27	CLE	14	11	4.40	33	1	0	200.2	98	129	1.405
2007	28	CLE	5	8	6.29	16	1	0	97.1	68	66	1.521
2008	29	CLE	22	3	2.54	31	4	2	223.1	63	170	1.110	AS,CYA-1,MVP-12
2009	30	CLE	7	9	3.14	22	3	1	152.0	53	107	1.303
			W	L	ERA	GS	CG	SHO	IP	ER	SO	WHIP
			83	48	4.01	178	10	3	1117.0	498	826	1.312

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Lee blossomed into everything the Indians hoped he would be after executing the Colon deal. Lee won a Cy Young award in 2008, accompanied with his first all-star game selection. Along with former-Tribe ace C.C. Sabathia, Lee was a casualty of the rebuild after the organization’s 2007 postseason run.

Less than a year removed from his 2008 Cy Young campaign, Lee was dealt to the Seattle Mariners with OF Ben Francisco. All the Indians received in return were Jason Knapp, Jason Donald, Lou Marson and some guy named Carlos Carrasco.

Despite dropping the ball on Phillips, the Indians made arguably their best trade of the past 20 seasons. Lee and Sizemore made a combined four all-star games, while Lee earned a Cy Young and Sizemore added a pair of Gold Glove awards.

Next: 5 prospects deserving of a promotion

The wackiest part of the 2002-Colon deal? Colon outlasted both Lee and Sizemore’s MLB careers. Never change, Big Sexy.

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