Brewers' Chris Colabello: Inks minor-league pact with Milwaukee
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Colabello signed a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Monday, MLB.com reports.
Colabello, who was let go by the Indians earlier in July, will most likely report to Triple-A Colorado Springs with his new organization. The 33-year-old will presumably provide Colorado Springs with some additional depth at first base following the trade of Garrett Cooper to the Yankees last week. It was just two seasons ago that Colabello slashed a remarkable .321/.367/.520 with 15 home runs across 360 plate appearances with the Blue Jays, but his career has fallen apart since he was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs in April 2016. He hasn't resurfaced in the big leagues since and was hitting just .225 at Triple-A Columbus this season prior to being released.
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Chris Colabello: Released by Indians
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Colabello was released by the Indians on Saturday.
The 33-year-old first baseman failed to make the big-league squad out of spring training and couldn't get it going with Triple-A Columbus, posting a slash line of .225/.323/.336 over 72 games. It's been a rough road for Colabello the last couple of years, but he'll look to latch on with another team in hopes of continuing his career.
The Indians informed Colabello on Sunday that he wouldn't make the Indians' Opening Day roster.
Colabello had an excellent spring training with a 15-of-39 showing from the dish and performed well for Italy in the World Baseball Classic, but as a non-roster invitee, the 33-year-old always faced long odds to break camp with the big club. After missing much of the first half of last season while serving a suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Colabello slashed just .180/.248/.288 with Triple-A Buffalo in the Blue Jays organization. He'll likely have to find some success with Triple-A Columbus before earning a promotion to the Indians in 2017.
Indians' Chris Colabello: Representing Italy in WBC
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Colabello will play for Team Italy in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Following last season's suspension for a failed drug test, Colabello will begin his climb back to the majors with the 2017 WBC. The tournament will serve as an opportunity for the first baseman to repair his image and make a good impression on his new team (he signed a minor league deal with the Indians in December). Although he received an invite to spring training, Colabello will likely begin the season at Triple-A Columbus as Carlos Santana and Edwin Encarnacion are entrenched at his position.
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Indians' Chris Colabello: Signs minor league deal with Indians
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Colabello signed a minor league deal, which includes a spring training invite, with the Indians on Tuesday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.
The 33-year-old has spent the last two seasons with the Blue Jays organization, but he appeared in only 10 games for the big league club in 2016, due in part to serving an 80-game PED suspension. In 45 minor league contests, mostly at Triple-A, Colabello compiled a meager .185/.254/.293 slash line with 12 RBI and 51 strikeouts. Expectations will be low for Colabello, but the Indians will hope he can regain the form that saw him hit .321 with 54 RBI in 101 major league games in 2015.
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Chris Colabello: Elects free agency
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Colabello elected to become a free agent on Tuesday, Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith reports.
After being outrighted off the Blue Jays' 40-man roster, it probably became clear to Colabello that he would have a better chance at earning big league at-bats in a different organization in 2017. He has a career .266/.322/.435 slash line against righties and just a .237/.304/.397 line against southpaws. That is not a very appealing profile for a first baseman/corner outfielder, so he is unlikely to enter next season assured of regular big league at-bats.
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Outrighted by Jays
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Colabello cleared waivers and was outrighted by the Jays, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet reports.
Colabello remains in the organization, but he's no longer on the 40-man roster. Other teams from around the league had the ability to claim the first baseman, but instead Colabello cleared waivers and remains under club control. This is his second career outright, meaning he can elect to become a free agent. The 33-year-old posted an .886 OPS for the Jays in 2015, but in 2016, he received an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. Colabello later appeared in 40 games for Triple-A Buffalo, managing a disappointing .180/.248/.288 slash line.
Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Ends embarrassing season with low numbers
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Colabello, who spent the entire second half in the minors following a suspension, slashed a disappointing .185/.254/.293 in 157 at-bats with Triple-A Buffalo.
Colabello's dismal performance in the International League added to the embarrassment of being suspended after testing positive for performance enhancers early in the MLB season. There were high hopes for the first baseman after a career year in 2015, and he was set to play the heavy side of a platoon with Justin Smoak when camp broke in April. Colabello wound up playing in just 10 games for the Jays, going a pathetic 2-for-29 (.069) with nine strikeouts in April. Where Colabello goes from here remains to be seen, but the team hasn't said much to indicate interest in rekindling the relationship this winter.
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Optioned to Triple-A
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Colabello was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.
The move isn't much of a surprise, but it makes Colabello officially a member of the Bisons -- or, more importantly, not a member of the Jays. Since testing positive for PEDs in late April, Colabello hasn't received many (if any) encouraging words from the team's front office. Manager John Gibbons even had some choice words last month, saying players "come and go" in reference to Colabello. If there was any hint of fantasy value attached to his name before, it's gone now.
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Suspension over, will remain in minors
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Colabello has officially completed his 80-game suspension, but will likely remain with Triple-A Buffalo, Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star reports.
Colabello was suspended in late April after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He's spent the last ten days playing with High-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo, struggling to a 7-for 37 mark at the plate with 16 strikeouts. With Justin Smoak and Edwin Encarnacion manning first base and Colabello shaking the rust off at Buffalo, the Blue Jays seem to be fine without the 32-year-old at the present time.
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Staying in minors until further notice
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Colabello (suspension) is not likely to immediately return to the big league club once he's eligible to return on July 23, MLB.com reports.
Colabello received an 80-game suspension earlier this year for violating MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He has options remaining on his contract and could be left in the minors at the end of his current rehab assignment if the club decides against adding him to the 25-man roster. "We're going to see how it all develops," manager John Gibbons said of Colabello, who is not eligible for postseason play this year because of his suspension. "I think they're just going to let him play down there and see [how it goes]."
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Will begin rehab assignment Wednesday
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Colabello (suspension), who is eligible to return on July 23, will begin his rehab assignment on Wednesday with High-A Dunedin, Sportnet's Mike WIlner reports.
Colabello will need to play really well during his rehab assignment to prove to the Blue Jays that they need his services. Justin Smoak and Edwin Encarnacion have spent the majority of time at first base since Colabello's suspension. The 32-year-old was suspended for 80 games on April 22 after testing positive for a performance enhancing substance.
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Nearing end of 80 game suspension
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Colabello, who was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for performance enhancing drugs, is eligible to return on July 23, shortly after the All-Star break.
Whether or not Colabello rejoins the big league team remains to be seen, but it seems unlikely that the Jays will welcome him back with open arms. Before the suspension, he was having a terrible start to the season, and manager John Gibbons seems to have finally found a winning lineup in recent weeks that doesn't include Colabello. Not to mention, Gibbons didn't seem too concerned when Colabello was suspended in the first place, saying players "come and go" when referring to the first baseman. Even if he somehow makes it back to the MLB roster, Colabello's value will be extremely limited in any format.
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Blue Jays' Chris Colabello: Facing uncertain future in Toronto
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The Blue Jays appear ready to move on from Colabello, CBC Sports reports.
Colabello rose from minor-league anonymity last season to claim a spot with the high-flying Blue Jays, but struggled out of the gate this year, hitting just .069 prior to his suspension. Manager Job Gibbons said players "come and go" in baseball, which doesn't seem too encouraging when assessing the first baseman's value once the suspension is over.
