FORT MYERS, Fla. - There was no assurance about the conditioning of Bartolo Colon. He hasn't picked up a ball since throwing 4 1/3 innings in the Caribbean Series against Venezuela Feb. 6. Nor were there any indications about his weight, with which he's struggled throughout his career. All that was known was that, two years after he won the Cy Young Award for the Angels, Colon has fallen far enough to be called a "depth signing" by Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein.
"Signing Colon to a minor league deal, we think, is a no-risk, potential high-reward signing," Epstein said. "He's on a minor league contract, going to show up here at camp tomorrow, and we'll do an evaluation of how far he is away from helping us.
"But it takes more than five starting pitchers to get through a season. Obviously, he's an accomplished guy, and if we can get him back to a point where he's throwing well, he can certainly help us at some point this season."
Built into the $1.25 million contract are roster bonuses, award bonuses, and bonuses for games started, beginning at eight, and games finished, beginning at 20. There is an out clause in the deal, though Epstein declined to specify the date, only saying, "That gives us ample time to get him into shape and fully evaluate him."
Because Colon hasn't thrown in nearly three weeks, he is behind the other starters in camp, and he'll be put on a slower progression. Epstein did say that the team has "no real concerns" about the weight of the righthander, who is listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 245 pounds, though he has pitched at a much higher weight.
Since his Cy Young season, Colon has struggled with both shoulder and elbow problems. He missed most of 2006 with a torn rotator cuff, then endured additional shoulder issues and an elbow injury in 2007.
"We'll know more when we get him in and do a full workup," Epstein said. "He had the shoulder issue a couple years ago and then the elbow, and he's 34 years old. We know we might not be getting a guy who's going to go out and win a Cy Young Award the way he's done . . . in the past. But from what we saw in September, certainly enough to compete."
According to the Red Sox' reports, Colon was throwing between 89 and 91 miles per hour against Venezuela, but the reports were better on his work in September with a fastball in the 91-92 range, even hitting 94.
"I think it was just a really good fit," Epstein said. "He knows he's a big league pitcher. He knows he can pitch effectively at the highest level when he's healthy, and he wanted to do so in a competitive environment. So we'll just get him here and try to outline a program for him to get him back in top pitching shape and we'll see what comes of it."
Changeup doubtful
Though the Red Sox are not about to issue anyone No. 21 - which hasn't been worn since Roger Clemens left the organization - that doesn't mean Clay Buchholz doesn't covet it. But even though he's another righthander from Texas, his desire for the numeral has nothing to do with Clemens."That was actually my dad's number," said Buchholz, who just agreed to be represented by Pat Rooney, also the agent for Terry Francona and David Ortiz. "I wore 21 a couple times, like my freshman year of high school I wore it. I guess I had pretty good luck with 61 last year. I think that'd be the only other number that I'd change to, just for the fact that my dad wore it. I think it'd be a pretty neat little deal."
Looks like he'll keep No. 61 then.
Buchholz was handed 61 by assistant clubhouse manager Pookie Jackson last season. He went on to throw a no-hitter in his second major league start.
"Pookie asked me if I had a preference for a number and I said, 'Nah, not really,' " Buchholz said. "He's like, 'Good, 'cause we wouldn't have given you a choice.' "
Hurst weighs in
Bruce Hurst, hired as special instructor for minor league development yesterday, will be heading on the road a couple of times a month to evaluate minor league pitchers in the system. Calling the Red Sox "the elite organization in baseball," Hurst said he's going to attempt to instill his personal philosophies in some of the younger pitchers, including sound fundamentals in delivery and a belief system that enables them to compete at the major league level.Hurst, who pitched for the Red Sox from 1980-88 and went 145-113 with a 3.92 ERA in 379 games with four organizations, also reflected on former teammate Clemens, and the steroid accusations facing him.
"It's really hard to figure out sometimes," Hurst said. "I guess I'm going to preface it by saying I love Roger. He's one of the greatest teammates I've ever had. I pulled for him. He had a great impact on my career.
"I mean, you can honestly point to the day when he struck out 20; it's when we all began to have some credibility as a Red Sox pitcher. Before that, there was the standard line, 'They ain't got the pitching. They always have the bats.' Until he did that, that's when me, Oil Can [Boyd] . . . all of us, began to have some credibility.
"So I have the highest regard for him. It's hard to say through this whole thing where the truth lies. I'm going to stand by Roger and, you know, when Andy Pettitte and all those guys give so much credibility to the accusations, it makes it difficult, but I have the highest regard for Roger.
"It's painful for those who really care about him to sit and watch him, to know what kind of person he is, know how hard he worked and the effort he put into it, to sit there in front of Congress and have to defend those 25 years."
Crash course
Jed Lowrie survived a collision on Field 3 when minor leaguer David Mailman stopped unexpectedly in the middle of a rundown drill. Lowrie's face smashed into Mailman's shoulder, the sound reverberating across the field, though Lowrie downplayed it. "It was kind of a grazing blow, hit me in the glove and in the bill of the hat and just kind of got me in the side of the head," Lowrie said. "I think it looked worse than it was. Just woke me up a little bit." . . . The Red Sox announced their Hall of Fame class for 2008. Six players and two off-field personnel will be inducted: first baseman Mo Vaughn, outfielder Mike Greenwell, lefthanded pitcher Bill Lee, righthanded pitchers Frank Sullivan and Wes Ferrell, and shortstop Everett Scott. Longtime scout George Digby and the late Edward Kenney Sr., who was a club executive, also will be inducted. The memorable moment that will be recognized by the Hall of Fame is Ted Williams's home run in his final major league at-bat Sept. 28, 1960.Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.
