SAN DIEGO — Bartolo Colon’s recent slump hasn’t exactly made him a hot commodity moving toward the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
According to a source, as of Sunday the Mets had not yet received even a nibble on the 41-year-old right-hander, who is expendable because of the club’s starting-pitching depth.
Over his last four starts, Colon is 0-3 with a 5.88 ERA. That comes after a strong June in which Colon helped carry the Mets rotation by going 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA.
Colon, who is due $11 million next season, blamed a stomach ailment for his lackluster performance Friday, when he allowed four earned runs over five innings.
Jon Niese officially was named the starter for Monday night’s game in Seattle, with Daisuke Matsuzaka shifted to the bullpen. Niese spent the last two weeks on the disabled list resting a sore left shoulder.
“I don’t have a crystal ball to tell you what’s going to happen in the next five or six days, but right now [Matsuzaka] is going to go to the bullpen,” Terry Collins said before the Mets fell to the Padres, 2-1. “He did a great job for us there and he pitched well as a starter. I think he brings a real useful piece to our pitching staff.”
Buddy Carlyle was designated for assignment after the game to clear roster space for Niese.
Wilmer Flores has a 21-game hitting streak for Triple-A Las Vegas, during which he is batting .368 with seven homers and 29 RBIs, but Collins doesn’t foresee a promotion coming for the infielder.
“I don’t want to bring young guys up here and have them sit the bench,” Collins said. “I just don’t think it’s good for their development. If he was going to have a future as a utility player down the road, OK, maybe. But this guy’s bat potential is so good that there’s nothing wrong with going and having a big year at Triple-A.”
Bobby Abreu, who started in left field Sunday and went 0-for-2 with a walk, likely will be the designated hitter for two of the three games in Seattle, Collins said.