Braves sign (extremely) veteran pitchers Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey

The Atlanta Braves are getting older in their starting rotation next season.

A lot, lot older.

Not content to add one 40-something starter, the Braves made it two by agreeing to terms with 43-year-old Bartolo Colon, a person familiar with the situation told the Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement is expected from the Braves until next week on the reported $12.5-million, one-year deal with Colon.

The agreement is subject to a physical and comes one day after the Braves said they had an agreement with 42-year-old knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

MLB.com first reported the Colon deal, which includes a team option for 2018.

Colon went 15-8 with a 3.43 ERA for the New York Mets this season. He was picked for the All-Star Game and memorably became the oldest player in baseball history to hit his first career homer when he went deep at San Diego on May 7.

While having two 40-year-old starters is not unprecedented — the 1990 Texas Rangers featured 43-year-old Nolan Ryan and 42-year-old Charlie Hough — it’s extremely rare.

Still, Colon and Dickey both fit what the Braves were hoping to add as they prepare to move into SunTrust Park: experienced starters who could eat up innings and not require the sort of long-term contracts that would hamper payroll flexibility and stymie the growth of the organization’s plethora of promising young pitchers.

Colon and Dickey will bolster a shaky rotation that didn’t produce anyone with double-figure wins this past season but does feature two-time All-Star Julio Teheran and hard-throwing Mike Foltynewicz, who led the team with a 9-5 record.

Colon had 44 wins for the Mets over the last three seasons, and before that was an 18-game winner for Oakland at age 40. He’s also one of the game’s most popular players, which should make a good fit in the clubhouse.

The Braves also have re-signed Josh Collmenter, who will likely join young pitchers Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair and Tyrell Jenkins in competing for the fifth starter spot.

Etc.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Manager Craig Counsell announced a three-year contract extension through the 2020 season. The 46-year-old Counsell just finished his first full season as skipper. He has a 134-165 record since taking over in May 2015 for the fired Ron Roenicke. … The Texas Rangers have signed third baseman Will Middlebrooks and infielder Doug Bernier to minor league contracts. Both players will receive invitations to major league spring training on the deals. … Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The team said the procedure included repair of cartilage and loose fragment removal. He is expected to make a full recovery in time for spring training, which opens Feb. 14 for the Red Sox.