The Phillies have released righty Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports on Twitter. As Eddy notes, Gonzalez has continued to deal with shoulder issues over his tenure in the Philadelphia organization.
After reaching free agency following his departure from Cuba, Gonzalez originally agreed to a six-year, $48MM contract. But apparent concerns with his physical led to a significant reduction in the contract, which ended up being for three years and just $12MM. The deal also included a vesting option for 2017, but that obviously won’t come into play.
Gonzalez ended up making only six relief appearances in the majors with the organization, all in 2014, allowing four earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out five. And he has only even managed 62 2/3 minor league frames over the last two years, with only two appearances in 2015 (though he did also appear in the Venezuelan winter league).
Clearly, Gonzalez did not feature in the pitching-needy Phillies’ plans even though the contract was already a sunk cost. He did show a mid-90s fastball in his brief MLB stint, but wasn’t able even to claim a role in the upper minors after seemingly having a chance to prove his worth entering the spring.
Not a good week for guys named “Miguel Gonzalez”…..
Let’s just hope that if the White Sox do make a play for Miguel Gonzalez, they call the right one. Maybe they can get Drake to make the call.
Someone needs to give the catcher Miguel Gonzalez from the Tigers organization a call to make sure he’s doing alright.
I hope they both sign with the same organization.
Another overpaid Cuban player…
Paging David Carpenter!
Another great contract thanks to Amaro! Of all the great Cuban ball players (Cespedes, Puig, Soler, etc.), we had to sign this guy!!!
Ugh such a disappointment