Indians sign Colabello to minor-league deal
The Cleveland Indians announced Tuesday they've signed first baseman Chris Colabello to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Colabello can opt out of the deal if he's not in the big leagues by June 1 of next season, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Colabello, who spent the 2015 and '16 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, played just 10 games in the majors last year. He was suspended 80 games in April after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug named dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, though he's vehemently denied having knowingly used the substance. Following the completion of his suspension the Blue Jays sent Colabello to Triple-A, and he did not make another big-league appearance.
Before his suspension, the 33-year-old was regarded as an excellent rags-to-riches story, having spent seven years in the independent leagues before getting his shot in the majors in 2012 with the Minnesota Twins. Colabello's best year came with the Blue Jays in 2015, when he hit .321/.367/.520 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs as the right-handed half of a first base platoon that helped the Blue Jays snap a 22-year playoff drought.
Colabello went just 2-for-29 in 10 games to begin 2016 before his suspension was announced; those struggles continued after he returned to the diamond, as he posted a .536 OPS in 40 games at Triple-A Buffalo.
Despite his lackluster performance and PED suspension, he'll be given a shot to crack the Indians' roster at spring training. The Indians are in need of right-handed hitting options at first base now that Mike Napoli is a free agent.
Cleveland has reportedly extended offers to multiple big-name first basemen still on the open market. Names still available that could interest the Indians include Napoli, Mark Trumbo, Chris Carter, and Colabello's former teammate in Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion.
Colabello is scheduled to represent Italy in this March's World Baseball Classic, according to a November report from Sportsnet's Jamie Campbell.