Mets willing to pay portion of Colon's salary in trade

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The New York Mets reportedly changed their minds and are now willing to eat some of the Bartolo Colon's salary if they're able to trade the veteran starter by the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

The team is now inclined to pay $2 million, the remaining value of Colon's $9 million salary in 2014, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News.

This news is in contrast to previous reports that suggested the Mets were unwilling to pay any of Colon's remaining salary.

Martino suggests Colon likely won't be dealt until the situation with other pitchers on the trade block, such as David Price, Cliff Lee, and Ian Kennedy, have been sorted and teams looking for pitching help have a better idea of who's available.

Colon, 41, signed a two-year deal with the Mets last December and will make $11 million in 2015.

Martino compared the trade speculation surrounding Colon's to another situation with the Mets from last year at the trade deadline.

The best analogy to the Colon situation is what happened last year with Marlon Byrd. When the offers in July were weak, Alderson kept Byrd; then, in August, the Pirates became needier, sweetened the deal, and made the trade. The Mets are comfortable moving Colon next month, or even in the winter.