In a stunning move, the Astros have designated center fielder Carlos Gomez for assignment, the team announced. Right-hander Jandel Gustave will come up from Triple-A Fresno to take Gomez’s roster spot.
Gomez’s designation represents a shocking fall from grace for the 30-year-old, whom Houston acquired from Milwaukee last July in a blockbuster deadline deal that also saw right-hander Mike Fiers join the Astros in exchange for four prospects. Two of those prospects – righty Josh Hader (No. 22) and outfielder Brett Phillips (No. 58) – currently rank among Baseball America’s Top 100. The Astros swooped in to land Gomez after the collapse of a trade between the Brewers and Mets, who were set to send righty Zack Wheeler and infielder Wilmer Flores to Milwaukee for Gomez before backing out over concerns regarding Gomez’s hip.
[RELATED: Updated Astros Depth Chart]
Gomez was a sought-after commodity last summer because he had established himself as one of the sport’s most well-rounded outfielders in previous seasons, combining excellence at the plate, on the base paths and defensively. From 2012-14, the former highly touted prospect batted .277/.336/.483 with 66 home runs in 1,686 plate appearances, stole 111 bases and accounted for 16.1 fWAR. Gomez was less effective prior to last season’s trade, though he still slashed a respectable .262/.328/.423 with eight homers in his final 74 games with the Brewers.
Gomez’s career began going off the rails after the Astros acquired him, as he hit a meager .242/.288/.383 in 41 contests down the stretch in 2015. But that line looks appealing compared to the .210/.272/.322 Gomez has compiled this season in 323 trips to the plate. Further, he has swatted only five homers while striking out a career-worst 31 percent of the time (a marked increase over his lifetime 23.1 percent mark) and posting his lowest ISO (.112) since 2010. From an offensive production standpoint, Gomez’s ability to steal bases (he’s 23 of 28 in Houston) is the lone aspect of his game that has continued to be above average since the Astros picked him up.
“It’s not a secret that I’m not doing my job and I’m really disappointed in myself,” Gomez admitted to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com (Twitter link).
Continued Gomez, “I still have a long career. I wish the best to this organization, this team” (Twitter link via Mark Berman of FOX 26).
With Gomez now out of the picture, the Astros look primed to turn center field over to defensive whiz Jake Marisnick, though he has never hit particularly well in the majors and is carrying a .225/.265/.337 line across 191 PAs this season. Unless another team takes on Gomez’s salary via trade or claims him on waivers, the Astros will also be responsible for the remainder of the $9MM he’s owed. If he goes unclaimed and Houston releases him, another club could sign Gomez for the prorated league minimum. Of course, that would be an enormous drop for a player who entered the season as a candidate to sign a $100MM-plus deal as a free agent during the upcoming winter. In fact, in his preseason free agent power rankings for 2017, MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes forecast a potential $150MM payday for Gomez. His career has since cratered, though, making that type of deal a pipe dream for the Scott Boras client.
Brian McTaggart of MLB.com first reported Gomez’s designation.
HAHA!!!
I wouldn’t say stunning, this has been coming for a while now. After that dropped fly ball, it was a guarantee.
I’m just happy to see the trend of teams actually playing players based on performance instead of their contract.
Obviously you dont watch how MM manages the Cardinals lol… If you a Mike’s guy you get PT until the GM trades you away damn the wins and losses.
Lol definitely not perfect, but it’s at least a start! It wasn’t long ago that teams played below replacement level players just to justify their huge salary. It would be almost unheard of to bench a guy making $10mm for a guy making the league minimum even 10 years ago. Luckily teams are slowly realizing the sunk cost and not doubling down on the misery by letting them hurt you on the field and at the bank.
And until we can beat you darn guys in the playoffs, I’ll continue to have respect for Matheny lol
Why
this year cost him tens of millions in FA
At the least. A players Prime years can be very expensive and even more so for someone who plays up the middle of the diamond. I don’t think many fans of the game are sad to hear of this news though
Da hell?
He sucked, bottom line, the end. Let’s not dwell on the obvious…….
please Angels, pick this man up
I’ll take an A level prospect for him.
Fat chance when clubs can sign him as a free agent in 10 days when he declines assignment.
Absolutely, the Angels definitely need this guy if they’re going to get serious about claiming the worst record in the AL. Make it happen!
Let’s get that top draft pick!
That .272 OBP maybe didn’t help. He’s only had two productive seasons at the MLB level.
I think you are selling him WAY short. He had one great season, one very good season, and four others where he was a solid starter (2+ WAR).
Boras will have a hard time pumping up anything positive out of this guy, who only gave a half hearted attempt at doing anything baseball wise for over a year.
Maybe a taste of AAA money on that MiLB deal at best will get him motivated once again? Doesn’t deserve anything else for 2017, tho with his agent.. Boras will spend all winter trying to get some gullible GM to think 2015-16 were anomalies and Gomez isn’t some lazy slob.
You’re an IDIOT. I watch EVERY game. He might have sucked, but the ONE thing he did is play hard, go sit in your corner and BE QUIET with your nonsense. You’re the same IDIOT that always popping off.
Yes, I’m sure he quit trying right when he was getting close to free agency. Don’t let sense get in the way of a good narrative.
JohnSilver’s a Major League TROLL that knows ALL! Just ask him and he will tell you he knows everything about every team/player. Gomez stunk! But to say he was LAZY is LAZY on your part.
AAA money? He gets paid the same exact amount he was scheduled to get paid which is 9 mill. The only difference being a signing team is only responsible for the prorated league minimum and Astros are on the hook for the rest.
Watched Gomez in hundreds of games as a Brewer fan and the last thing he could be called is lazy. He only knows how to go full speed.
Can’t wait to see the contract Gomez gets in the off season. Somebody out there will still give the guy a 1-year $16 million dollar deal.
Not to worry… The Garbage collectors (the Angels) of the MLB will pick him up and will award him a huge contract ….
you say that on just about every article so once again you must be new to baseball if your calling the Angels a garbage collectors.
Except for the part where the Angels actually are garbage collectors and sign washed up players to bad contracts frequently.
Only problem there is that they don’t do that. Only in 2012 and 2013 have they done that. The last 3 seasons they’ve spent less for depth moves, which has actually been the more typical approach they’ve had the entire time Arte Moreno has owned the team. Plus, every team would take a shot at a 32 year old Albert Pujols if they had the money and the chance. You should also look at the Rangers right now. The Tigers locked up Miguel Cabrera forever. And in 2 years, everyone who likes to bash the Angels for doing what any other team would do if they had the money are going to to look foolish. A lot of young superstars from the next generation are due for free agency…
“Only in 2012 and 2013 have they done that.”
They just did it with Ricky Nolasco. He’s terrible and the Angels just traded for him and his $12MM salary next year. Vernon Wells was 2011 as well.
“Plus, every team would take a shot at a 32 year old Albert Pujols if they had the money and the chance.”
No, they wouldn’t have. The Cardinals, for one, could have signed him but they knew how bad that deal would be on the back end. Plenty of other teams had better options at first base that didn’t cost the insane dollars and years that Pujols got.
I don’t particularly care for your Angels either way. But past and recent history of FAs and trades isn’t exactly impressive. Yet all it takes is on good, reliable piece to go with Mr. Trout and most will be forgotten
a few recent years doenst make an organization a Garbage bin fellas. look at their records past 10 years. that’s not the records of a bad organization. Just a few recent bad choices
Right now they might be in the worst shape out of any club. One amazing piece surrounded but nasty turds. They better make these draft picks count. Actually I’d rather be the halos over the As, roster is putrid, and maybe the Reds. Diamondbacks too, they just suck at life.
Umm, except when your owner makes the same mistakes continuously and doesn’t change anything. Then you get a reputation, and sorry, but that’s the reputation the Angels have well earned, regardless of past seasons. And you have the worst farm in baseball hands down which means there’s no end in sight to this.
You can actually compare their records over the last decade with the Cardinals and Giants. I think more-so the Giants within the last 5-6 years. People love to bash the Angels yet the year they signed Albert they missed the playoffs despite having a better record than the AL Pennant winner that year. The Cardinals and Giants both have been allowed to sneak into the playoffs with win totals in the 80’s over the last several years because of weak competition. So if they can get away with that, then why are the Angels getting so much flak?
Not sure how this is stunning. As an Astros fan I’ve been just waiting for him to go and I think a lot of Astros fans will agree. Rather give a young guy some playing time rather than see him go out to Centerfield and run away from fly balls
Rays
I would be happy if the Rays picked him up for $150k to finish this season and see first hand if he is worth offering a short term deal this offseason. From 2012-2015 his floor was a roughly league average hitter with above average defense in CF. If the Rays could get a 100 wRC+ hitter and +10 run defender in LF for $6-8 million, I would be happy. Especially considering he showed much more than that in 2013-2014.
Couldn’t of happened to a more humble guy.
My sentiments exactly. A more humble and more principled guy. He shows up other teams and players, then wants to fight everyone when they call him on it. He hasn’t had any incidents this year, but that may just be because he hasn’t done much that could show anyone up.
Wow what a fall off for this guy. Some one will take a chance on him though. My guess… If he gets to them… The Indians.
He will end up turning it around every player has a bad season here and there.
He’s had more than one bad season. His number are falling off a cliff. Hope he can turn it around for his own good but it certainly is not looking like he will.
I would like to see him in philly
I don’t usually care what ballplayers have to say, but this guy’s owning it. I hope he figures it out again.
First time for everything.
Gomez was always a guy who got by strictly on natural ability. He did things the wrong way, but because he was so athletically gifted, he was able to succeed anyway. I figured all along that once he lost a step due to age and injuries, he wouldn’t last much longer. I didn’t expect him to fall off a cliff *this* quickly though.
Good thing the Brewers sold high on him.
Jordan Hynum is crushed.
1
give him some juice and he will be ok
As a citizen of Fresno, I do not want him here ….Carlos please do not accept your assignment to Fresno
All sizzle no steak.
Haha so true.
Something tells me this is the guy the Giants will kick the tires on.
doesn’t really fit the clubhouse profile
With all that talent, surely there’s SOMEONE out there who can figure out how to turn him around. Is there a team like the Braves or Pirates, but for hitters?
problem is that he is not a hitter!!
The Pirates would be about the last team to claim him. They don’t need him with McCutchen, Polanco, Marte, Joyce and others already in the OF. Also, Gomez is not at all a popular guy in the Pirate clubhouse after the bench-clearing brawl a couple of years ago started by him and Gerrit Cole. Cole had his share of responsibility, but Gomez acted like a nutcase and was roundly criticized by Pirate players for it afterwards.
Connfyoozed, he isn’t suggesting the Pirates claim him. He’s asking if there is a team out there who can fix hitters, like how Pittsburgh is known for fixing pitchers.
Oops… you’re right. I guess I misread and I got… connfyoozed. Sorry about that.
All good, just wanted to clarify his/her point!
Pirates don’t fix hitters. If they did, I guess Cutch doesn’t have a hitting coach this year.
I think this guy is done. Stick a fork in him. Some one will claim him but he has nothing left to offer.
I meant as in the way the Pirates can fix/buy low and get tremendous value on pitchers, is there a team like that for hitters.
The guy is uber talented, and just as soon as last year he hit .670 while playing a decent center field. Not fantastic, but some team out there can make use of that profile. Ian Desmond is a good example of what I think could become of Gomez. He looked done too and had to take a 1 year deal and completely revitalized his career.
Just realized I only looked at the line for his half season with Houston on b-ref. He actually hit a combined .724 OPS.
The Brewers were so lucky to get what they got for him. Now he isn’t even worth an A ball prospect.
Has a 30 year old former all star ever had a worse contract year?
I feel for the guy.
Dude works hard, great teammate, takes accountability .
Mat Latos, but he was younger
Brad Hawpe was an AS at age 30 with the Rockies in 2009 and was quietly released midway through 2010. Although he was 31 and his peak was not as high as Gomez, it is the same concept. It’s not common, but it has happened before.
Hawpe is the kind of guy who gets old fast, generally – a slow guy who can’t field but can mash. Old player skills. I remember, as a Padres fan, watching him there at the end and he just couldn’t get around on a fastball at all. It was actually sad to watch. He struck out in like 38% of his at-bats with San Diego. Gomez is a quite different kind of player and maybe it is just the injury issue that put the kibosh on the trade with the Mets last season.
Unless one of the AL teams way out of contention are bored today, it would seem impossible that Gomez will fall past the Tigers. Although, they do have some strange affection for scrub bench players masquerading as utility men, so maybe they actually prefer Andrew Romine as their everyday CF-er.
I could see the Mariners taking a flier on him. They’re always deluded enough to think they’re in contention. Who ever knows?
Well, I mean, they *are* in contention regardless of what you think of their team and their chances. And I highly doubt they’ll claim Gomez, as it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for them.
Why not take a chance? You can’t beat free….or really cheap in this case. Oh and the Mariners have won 5 in a row, if ED had taken over sooner it might be 9 in a row. I’ll put money on SEA getting a playoff spot.
Gomez to the blue jays
Would sure as heck beat using Darrell Ceciliani every day for 2+ weeks.
Oh thank you Mets medical team!!!
Ha! We got ONE right!!! 😛
Anyone else see the White Sox? I’d like to see that happen!!
Dang, Josh Hader is a stud. He would have looked nice in stars.
I agree. And Phillips still has a ton of potential despite a down season.
I don’t think that’s the right link to his reference profile
Could the Rangers just release him to get the roster spot and still pay him.
Can’t see why the Yankees won’t pick him up for RF. Would be an amazing defensive outfield with him. Have hicks on bench for lefties. Call up Judge in September for call ups. Everything works out for everyone.
Why would the Yanks want him? They clearly threw in the towel on this season when they traded away Chapman.
I wouldn’t mind the Braves taking a chance on him. Wouldn’t want to give up anything more than Chris Ellis level prospect for him though, which probably would mean it wouldnt happen. The Astros will probably want to get a bit more returned from their loss than that and so would rather try and rejuvenate the guy.
Why trade a near MLB ready starter for a soon to be FA? You think he will be the difference in us finishing I’m dead last place? That lil win streak has me worried about our #1 pick. They would probably take a Ted turner autographed football for him right about now…
Mets need a center fielder
Biggest douche in the league.
I would love to see the Brewers claim Gomez! I’m sure they would be able to resign him, since the Brewers have the lowest payroll in baseball. Would be great for them to regain some of his value for next year during their rebuild.
Kenny Williams will pay him to come be a has been for the white sox. Oh how I’m sick of my team, if you can even call the white sox that.
Gomez should play in one of the outfield corners, he’s not a center fielder.
Dude has been one of the best defensive center fielders in the game in recent years. Not this year, necessarily, but to say the dude isn’t a CF is a bit much.
I’m hoping Dave Stewart offers Houston something.
He’s probably going to the mets
Nationals have a need in CF. It wouldn’t hurt to try this guy out.
With the not so shocking news that Michael Brantley has had yet another set back and the recent play of Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall, it seems like the Indians should be a favorite to put something together here.
don’t worry gomez. the Yankees will give you a 10 year 200 million contract
This has been a bad year for former all stars. There has been an emergence of new all star caliber players of course. But man, this has been a strange year. Even Bryce Harper is slumping (for his standards).
I would not be shocked if he came back to Milwaukee on a 1 year deal to try to get his career back on track. He has said that he wants to retire a Brewer so take a gamble in Milwaukee on a 1 year deal if it does not work out when then he can retire as no one will want him then.
It’s amazing to say this – but even with this cataclysmic year he may be too pricey for the Brewers. But I agree, I think it would be a good fit and stop-gap between Brinson/Phillips.
I can see a team taking a chance and signing him to a one year deal. I can see Kansas City, Oakland, or San Diego signing him
A perfect test for pretender GMs. Do you put him in your OF or not? Needs a poll.
I think the Astros should of given him a chance. He has shown All-Star quality with his bat and some with his glove.
He’s been getting a chance for the last year. Last year he was tolerable at the plate with his defense and base running. This year, the bat has degraded even more, and he’s a liability on the field and base paths. Cut ties and move on. They are in too tight of a playoff race to risk wins and losses on some guy who clearly doesn’t have his head in the game.
This guy has always had a bad attitude which definitely turns some clubs off. Any team would have to be crazy to offer this guy the kind of money mentioned. Paying that kind of money for this type of player is ruining teams.