A majority of the free agent dust has settled by now, but as MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently noted, there’s a large handful of top-50-ranked free agents who are still searching for a contract. The best outfielder on that list is Carlos Gonzalez, who appears mired amidst some unfortunate circumstances.
As Adams noted, the left-handed-hitting Gonzalez put up the worst season of his career in 2017. Under any circumstances, it would pretty bad timing for a player to do this in his walk year. However, Gonzalez’ walk year just happened to coincide with an abnormal offseason that’s moved at a historically slow pace. Further worsening his situation is the fact that power has been abundant in MLB for the past couple of seasons, and therefore bat-first corner outfielders might not hold as much value in the eyes of front offices around the league.
Not only that, but front offices seem wary of promising long-term contracts to average players on the wrong side of 30. Although CarGo has put up some impressive offensive seasons, hehasn’t played at an especially above-average level since 2013, and he comes with an injury history as well.
At this stage in his career, Gonzalez should probably be shielded against left-handed pitchers. He managed just a 29 wRC+ against them across 137 plate appearances during the 2017 campaign. If front offices see him strictly as a platoon player, that could put an even lower cap on his price tag.
Now we’re into March, and Gonzalez seems to be in a bad spot. Logan Morrison, another bat-first left-handed hitter, received just a $6.5MM guarantee from the Twins. Although the two have very different MLB track records on the whole, the Morrison contract doesn’t exactly shine optimism on Gonzalez’ market.
The list of suitors for Gonzalez at this point is short. The Orioles, Rockies, White Sox, Royals, Astros and Blue Jays are among the teams who shown interest in the outfielder at some point during the offseason. While those teams are all reasonable fits in theory, the market for him seems tepid at this time. With opening day fast approaching, the one-year, $12MM contract we predicted at the beginning of the offseason is beginning to look out of reach, barring some sort of injury that creates a need for his services.
What do you think? Where will Gonzalez end up? (Poll link for app users)
Hoboken Zephyrs?
Ain’t no jokin’ in Hoboken.
Texas Rangers!
Where’s the ‘who cares’ button?
Right next to the statement, Who cares what GeorgieR thinks.
Wocka, Wocka, Wocka.
Who cares is Right next to the “he sucks outside of Coors Field.” He isn’t worth 2.5 1 year.
Agree and I believe Borass is his agent. I’d rather sign lomo before he signed, younger and hit like 27 HRs on road last year
Next to the “You’re the one who opened this article” button
If you do not care then simply pass on reading the article. Its that simple. No button necessary
It was a nice career Carlos. One year contract at the league veteran minimum in Colorado is his best bet.
“Best Bet” for CarGo……but NOT for the Rockies….
Colorado has some young talent that is quite good. Right now they have Desmond, Blackmon, Parra as the starting OF (once Parra heals up). They have Dahl and Tapia ready to play OF (and a few more guys coming)…….McMahon starting at 1B, and Rodgers just about ready to take over 2B (in ’19)
CarGo had a Great Run in Colorado. Time to move on from him. Adding him just delays the emergence of the young talent….and it really DOESN’T make them a better team.
Totally agree. Gonzalez needs a change of scenery, and COL has plenty of other options for the ABs he’d burn if they brought him back. I felt Cargo would have a hard time finding a job this winter, but having Boras as his agent is nothing but a handicap.
Royals
The New England Patriots
*crickets*
Nippon Ham Fighters
Hahahaha
“ . . . power has been abundant in MLB for the past couple of seasons, and therefore bat-first corner outfielders might not hold as much value in the eyes of front offices around the league.”
Not sure what you’re getting at. As much value as in earlier years? As much value as glove-first corner OFs? As much value as two-way players? Spare a clue?
As much value as in previous years
Poll: What else can we right about … we are running out of topics HELP !
Write*
Had to scratch that itch, sorry.
Jacksonville jumbo shrimp
Did the Rox makes QO?
Nope…….He would have accepted it.
No QO for “Cargo” which might help his market a tad in comparison to a left-handed power bat like Mike Moustakas who does have one attached to him. “Moose” is still worth more as a “younger” third baseman but a rebuilding team like the White Sox or Braves might be reluctant to part with a high second round pick in the upcoming Rule 4 amatuer draft if they sign him before June 4th.
“what”?
With no loss of a draft choice, at a discounted price, he’d be a good addition for the Sox. If he has a good start, flip him at the trade deadline.
Exactly the type of mediocre, doesn’t move the needle signing Baltimore loves.
O’s ownership loves to sign homer hitters, so it’s a possibility.
Even the O’s have been reluctant to spend money this offseason …
Even the Orioles have been reluctant? That’s sarcasm right? They never spend money on “good” players. I’d rather them sign this guy then to have an outfield with Colby Rasmus in it.
How do you sign a player who walked away from the game in June of last year and hasn’t made up his mind how long he even WANTS to play?
This is actually so true
Rangers will sign him lol
I was torn between the Rockies and Astros in the poll question. I settled on Houston.
All things being relatively equal in the dollar department for a one year “pillow” type contract I figured Carlos Gonzalez might want to sign with the team that offers him the best chance for his first World Series ring. The Astros can use him as their primary DH versus right-handed pitching and perhaps “Cargo” can replace part of the role that retired switch-hitter Carlos Beltran performed in 2017.
The rebuilding White Sox might have been a good fit with their short term need for a left-handed power hitter in the middle of their batting order to supplement the right-handed bats of Jose Abreu and Avisail Garcia but the front office has apparently decided they would rather give those AB’s to a younger player like LF/DH Nicky Delmonico. They club is also high on right-handed hitting OF prospect Ryan Cordell this spring so he may get the bulk of playing time in LF with Delmonico moving to DH versus RHP. The White Sox also seem intent on utilizing Matt Davidson in the DH spot versus LHP and also have him pegged as a backup at 1B and 3B.
The White Sox already passed on younger available left-handed power bats like Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison this offseason so I’m guessing that they will do likewise with “Cargo” unless an injury occurs to one of their own players already mentioned.
Despite the stigma of a QO, I believe that the front office might be more inclined to sign Mike Moustakas who can fill two needs, the middle of the order power bat along with a third baseman. Their top hot corner prospect Jake Burger just sustained a season ending achilles tendon rupture which now figures to push back his MLB ETA to 2021 or so. A three year deal for “Moose” might be in the cards at some point this spring with no other obvious suitors for him. The White Sox might value Moustakas more with a lower than anticipated contract this late in the offseason despite his QO. They could also gamble and wait until June 4th and the QO disappears when the 2018 Rule 4 Draft commences.
Totally agree about WSox . Delmonico in my opinion may fade and Davidson Ks too often to be everyday 3b or DH so he’s not a must start. Moose would look good at 3rd on a 3 year deal and burger with losing injury year and more development sb ready after that. My worry is Kenny Williams man crush on cargo but fortunately his agent has clouded view of his and the market values
Delmonico has been brutal in LF so far. His best use is at DH. Moose would be a good signing if he’s still available in June. I would not want to give a draft choice to the Royals.
Sox may pick him up for the minimum if there is a chance they can get some production out of him and flip him. I say he’s worth a bag of dryer-cooked tater tots if you can upgrade to oven cooked waffle fries.
What do you mean, ‘We already counted your vote”? I was gonna vote for all of them because I think they all deserve Cargo.
I guess I’m stuck with my Astros vote.
I hope Matt Holiday is up next.
must be one of those everyone gets a trophy kids
Haha
A lot of teams would love to have him on a one year, pillow, 4th outfielder contract.
But would he ever accept that?
Sugarland Skeeters
I say the athletics pick him up in may on an incentive deal. Former farmhand for them, just seems in character.
The Nobody
Wtf @ the one comment someone submitted directly on the poll page
Why did you put that on the poll page Reflect?
Yeah, that comment was oddly specific.
Guessing WSox have unproven guys like Engel/Cordell/Tilson compete for OF spots this spring to see how they do rather than play n flip a vet like CarGo for little noteworthy return later.
As of this writing, this poll could well be the only time for many years that I can say, “See? NOBODY beats the Orioles!”
None of these FAs are guaranteed a job. Teams are focusing on what they have. Only chance for most now is injuries
Orioles need to sign him for 2-3 years. Adam jones may not be back next year he has made it clear he wants a ring. I think he’ll test the market.
How about the cubs for CarGo? He can split time with Schwarber
@ Angelsfan4life….Schwarber and CarGo are both LH so a platoon wouldn’t work….as bad as CarGo was last year he could still be productive for a few teams….the Giants need a LF….he could platoon with Bautista in Toronto and the Orioles could use him in RF or LF….just to name a few teams he could fit….
I thought Arizona would be a perfect fit since they lost Martinez
usafcop: Jose Bautista is still a free agent himself. He can platoon with Carlos Gonzalez in RF and at DH on the still unsigned team this spring.