Surprised Bartolo Colon to get start against Braves Tuesday

By

Posted 12:24PM on Monday, July 1, 2002

TORONTO - Bartolo Colon joined the Montreal Expos on Saturday, two days after being acquired from the Cleveland Indians in a stunning six-player trade. The right-hander said he was shocked by the deal that saw the resurgent Expos acquire him for first baseman Lee Stevens and top prospect Brandon Phillips. "I'm still surprised," Colon said through an interpreter. "But I really didn't think much about where I was going because I have no control over what is going to happen to this team." Colon, 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA in 16 starts, will make his debut on Tuesday in Atlanta. He said he was happy to the join the Expos, but sad to be leaving his wife and two kids behind in Cleveland. He said he understands why Indians' fans are upset. "The team has let go a couple of their best players. They are really proud of their club, and since then they've kind of shied away from the stadium," Colon said. The trade signals Montreal's commitment to winning in what could be the Expos' final season. The Expos escaped baseball's plan to eliminate them through contraction in the offseason only to emerge as one of the best success stories this year. The team is 42-36 and in the middle of the NL wild card race. Montreal general manager Omar Minaya decided to make the trade after the Expos went 8-1 on their recent homestand. "That helped this trade become a reality," Minaya said. "If you are 20 games back it's different." The Expos were taken over by major league baseball this spring, but Minaya and the front office were given freedom to run the club. Minaya said Colon won't be traded if they fall out of the race. He said they might add more players before the July 31 trading deadline. "Colon may be in demand, but I'm telling you he's not only here for this year," Minaya said. "If the fans come out and support the team it might allow us the financial freedom to go out and acquire, and go over the projected budget." Minaya was thrilled by the reaction the trade got. Montreal has a long history of trading or losing to free agency their best players because they can't afford them. Pedro Martinez, John Wetteland, Larry Walker and Moises Alou are just some former Expos players to become stars. "When it came across the wire, people said 'Wait a minute, this don't fit. Montreal is not supposed to getting these guys, it's supposed to give these guys back,' " Minaya said. "It was fun for me to hear that." Colon, meanwhile, isn't thrilled with the idea of hitting in the National League. "I'm not too much into swinging the bat right now," he said. "I didn't feel good swinging the bat in that series against Montreal not too long ago, but I'll get used to it."