The Rangers have officially announced that they’ve signed veteran outfielder Carlos Gomez to a minor league deal, as FanRag’s Jon Heyman was first to report (Twitter links). Gomez is expected to play a few games in the minors before being called up. The Astros requested release waivers on Gomez yesterday after previously designating him for assignment. The Astros will be responsible for most of what remains of his $9MM 2016 salary.
The Rangers might have had interest in Gomez in part because of Shin-Soo Choo’s recent forearm fracture. They currently have infielder Jurickson Profar listed as their starter in left field, alongside Ian Desmond in center and Nomar Mazara in right. Few would dispute that the 23-year-old Profar is an interesting player, but he has only a handful of games of professional experience in the outfield and might be best utilized elsewhere.
The team also currently has Ryan Rua, Delino DeShields and Drew Stubbs on its active roster (along with Carlos Beltran, who has played in the field only occasionally since the Rangers acquired him). DeShields and Stubbs have not hit particularly well this season, however. Gomez, of course, is only available because he hasn’t hit much this season either, but he does have a more established track record and a still-decent glove. Gomez’s likely role on the Rangers isn’t clear, however — he has typically played center field in his career but isn’t likely to unseat Desmond, who has been successful there. Also, he’s right-handed, as are Desmond, Rua, DeShields and Stubbs. Gomez could potentially play right field against some lefties, spelling the left-handed Mazara.
Gomez once looked likely to land a huge deal in free agency next offseason, but his career has gone way off the rails since the Brewers dealt him to Houston last year. This season, he’s batted just .210/.272/.322, leading to his release from the contending Astros. At 30, it’s surely possible Gomez has upside remaining, but the Rangers will have very limited time to realize it.
Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams named the Rangers as one of eight potential fits for Gomez. The 30-year-old Gomez had also been connected to the Giants and Marlins.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Do it Rangers, he will be better than Stubbs and rua, he should fit in pretty well
If “better than Drew Stubbs” is the criteria, I think they could have signed just about anyone and been good.
W
The Texas Brewers are going to the ship!
he don’t deserve to play for a contender
Apparently the contender feels otherwise.
I tend to agree, and I also wouldn’t have bothered with him if I’m the Rangers. It’s not like one individual can kill the good vibes there, and he’s a very talented player that they’re now getting for nothing… So I see the appeal, yet I have never been a fan of the way he plays the game. But they have developed a winning culture there so I assume they believe he can be incorporated in that
It’s ashame that Gomez didn’t work out for the Astros, but hopefully it does for the Rangers and their hitter-friendly ballpark.
From a non-playoff team to the world series champs. Go go-go
He signed with the Rangers, not the Cubs.
You mean the Giants… it’s an even year.
Besides, for the past 27 years, everyone has known that 2015 was the Cubs year.
How many times are people going to comment on the Giants and this being an “even” year. My god we get it people you are the one person who knows they won their 3 in even years. You are so smart. No get over it and get real.
Chill down bro.
Got your panties in a wad, don’t ya? Someone makes a claim about the future and no one else is allowed to comment. Tell me, did your parents hate you so much as a child that they never let you watch the Back to the Future trilogy? You flew off the rails so fast you didn’t even have time to read the second sentence. I guess we’re not allowed to joke about the future if it’s possibly the year of the Cubs…
AS in 13 & 14 then fell off w the DisAstros – wonder why
Wow! Rangers jumped in on the CG sweepstakes. Good move for the Rangers just the fact that he is not a major need. If he pans out then it’s a low risk high reward.
I do agree with others about not liking him and his attitude so we will see if can contribute to this clubhouse in a positive manner.
It would also be especially painful for the Astros if Gomez were to play well with the Rangers…. Texas has dominated them head to head this year on the field, they traded for Lucroy which hurt the Astros, and also acquired Beltran who Houston was interested in. Basically the Rangers have been the bane of the Astros existence this season. If Gomez were to turn it around with Texas, it would be one last twist of the knife.
That’s exactly what I was thinking. It’s a roll of the dice, but if a winning team, a great clubhouse and a strong manager can overcome Gomez’s funk, then it could pay dividends for the Rangers in the upcoming post-season.
What has he done in the past that makes everyone say they don’t like his attitude? Not sure I’ve seen anything to warrant that, outside of him falling out of his helmet when trying to hit a home run….
I can’t either, though admittedly I also haven’t watched that much of him/the teams he’s played for. Wasn’t he the guy who hit a big home run against the Braves/Yankees, got into it with Brian McCann because he pimped the shit out of it, and never ended up touching home plate?
He’s a bat-flipper – creates tension with other teams. We got him to scrum with Toronto.
I didn’t see u in that scrap
Gomez was suspended for 1 game for slamming his bat down and admiring a home run in the batter’s box before starting a slow trot while shouting at the pitcher in 2013.
Then in 2014, he was suspended for 3 games and refused to apologize for throwing punches after he stood and admired a fly ball that didn’t even make it out for a home run.
You mean the time that he was illegally prevented from touching home plate by Brian McCann in ’13 (inciting the actual fight) and the time in which he was harassed by both Gerrit Cole and then, from off of the bench, Travis Snider in ’14 (inciting the actual fight).
Gomez was targeted for his flair on the field (“pimping homers”) by the old guard and was foolish enough to respond in the same overly aggressive ways in which he himself was attacked. Gomez just takes the most flack because he has the big personality.
That was a very safe bet signing by an smart ball club ran by baseball brainiacs ….
Did they sign him already or just interested ?
Great teammate, fun guy but he’s lost most of the skill
Are we talking about the same player? The CG with Houston is surly, loud in the clubhouse, somewhat antagonistic, a little conceited and rude to most reporters. He’s been this way since the Brewers days. So who are you discussing ?
Actually he was a huge fan favorite in Milwaukee and was a tremendous teammate. That’s coming from a source on the coaching staff who I know personally. And unless you were actually in the clubhouse in Houston most of the stuff you’re reading is from subjective best writers. He’s definitely polarizing but he got a huge ovation when he returned to Milwaukee earlier this year
You linked to the wrong Delino DeShields! Should be Jr. I hate to be that guy, but that happens a lot! I’m sorry haha
This was a no-brainer. Houston doesn’t get him, he’s affordable and Beltre and Beltran know him off the field from charity events. Even if he sits on the bench, he’s not helping any other West club. AND Houston pays everything but the Major League minimum. Who knows ? He might hit in Arlingtons’ band box of a hitters park!
Money is everything, and you missed a very important word: Prorated… prorated league minimum… some roughly $110k on the Rangers books. Most definitely worth taking a flyer on.