Twins' Santana: Colon wants to pitch next year, is eyeing Latino wins record

Ervin Santana is expecting to see his buddy Bartolo Colon back on the mound in 2018.

The Minnesota Twins right-hander told Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press Saturday that he spoke to Colon last week, and revealed that the 44-year-old confirmed he intends to pitch somewhere in 2018.

According to Santana, Colon -- who spent part of last season with the Twins and will turn 45 in May - does not want to hang up his spikes until he leapfrogs Dennis Martinez for the most wins by a Latin-American pitcher in baseball history.

Martinez, a native of Nicaragua, won 245 games during his 23-year career with five teams. Colon, who hails from the Dominican Republic, finished last season with 240 wins, tops among active pitchers and only five shy of tying Martinez's mark.

"He just wants to win six more games and then he will retire," Santana said, per Berardino.

Santana also said that Colon revealed that the New York Mets apparently have some interest in a reunion. Colon became a fan favorite during his three seasons in Flushing from 2014-16, and was an All-Star for the Mets in 2016 at age 43.

Though Colon was the oldest player in baseball last year and pitched to a 6.48 ERA in 28 starts with the Twins and Atlanta Braves, news of his apparent plans to keep pitching is not new. Following his final start of the season in October, he responded to questions about retirement by stating "I'm not going anywhere." One month later, it was reported that Colon was looking for work in 2018.

In addition to nearing Martinez's record, Colon is also just four wins shy of passing Hall of Famer Juan Marichal for the most wins by a Dominican-born pitcher.