The Nationals have released southpaw reliever Michael Gonzalez, tweets Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. Gonzalez had a Thursday opt-out date, notes Mark Zuckerman of CSNwashington.com (on Twitter).
The 35-year-old seemed a long shot for a slot after the club decided to add Ross Detwiler to the pen. He joined the Nats just three weeks ago after spending 2013 with the Brewers. Gonzalez was an important part of the Nationals club down the stretch in 2012, after signing mid-season.
Shaky better find himself another agent on the downside of his career, Boras isn’t the guy to be negotiating for him when he’s just tying to hang on and find a job anywhere.
He’s going to have to find a job now and just prove himself at the AAA level for awhile, not optout for a few months, but prove himself and tough to do with his agent. He’s always been tough on lefties and hopefully can put up some good numbers and get back as a specialist type, but he’s gonna have to earn it this time.
Bad move holding out so long and not all in his numbers from last year can guess.
Braves might pick him back up. Hope not, but definitely possible.
I doubt they take a chance on him no better than he has looked as of late, but they do need another lefty until(if) Venters is ready. Buchter hasn’t developed enough control yet. Than again I wouldn’t have expected the Harang signing either.
Think Mike needs to come back home and re – establish his value with Astros. He would give Astros another closer option and lefty to pen. Astros would get a chance to flip him to contender by All – star break, which is something that I am sure Mike wants at this point in his career.
Agree with other comments that he needs to ditch Boras.
Gonzalez looked thoroughly done last year. Control came and went and got worse as the season wore on. Closer? A team would have to be very desperate to entertain that notion. Brewers couldn’t find a taker last year at the deadline.
Think the Astros are desperate given their current rebuilding status. Intent of closer role would be more so to build him up and trade him. Kind of same situation they currently have with Chad Qualls, Matt Albers and Jesse Crain. Mike wouldn’t necessarily be primary closer. He would just join the “Closer by Committe” group.