29-year-old Marwin Gonzalez – he’ll be 30 by Opening Day – entered the offseason primed to a secure healthy payday from one of perhaps two dozen interested suitors around the league. Armed with gloves to play six positions, an incredibly goofy nickname christened by superagent Scott Boras, and the whiff of 2017’s 4.0 fWAR breakout still detectable to the sharpest of senses, Gonzalez’s camp has touted the longtime Astro as the right-sized plug to fill almost any hole.
But the market surrounding the Venezuelan-born infielder/outfielder, to this point in the offseason, has been exceedingly quiet – muzzled, even. The Braves, Padres, and Astros have all been connected to Gonzalez at various hot-stove junctures, though none seem particularly aggressive. Other teams, like the oft-linked Brewers and Cubs, or the MLBTR-projected Twins, seem to have no interest at all. Is the tepidity a product of an exorbitant Boras ask, or are teams just not nearly as enamored with “Swiss G” as originally surmised?
Gonzalez, who scuffled through seven minor league seasons before his 2012 debut with the Astros, has turned in a number of solid-to-good offensive seasons in the majors, posting above-league-average marks in four of the last five. His overhauled approach – more walks, fewer balls on the ground – has paid dividends as well, with the aforementioned 2017 breakout (.303/.377/.530) his career high-water mark. While not a multi-positional defensive wizard like Ben Zobrist, Gonzalez has acquitted himself well all across the diamond, and could conceivably be a full-time fit at second base, third, or in the corner outfield.
Still, one can’t exactly use a pen when projecting Gonzalez’s forthcoming production. The best utility men are at least competent at shortstop, and Gonzalez, who’s nearing the age at which range, in both the infield and outfield, declines precipitously, has been dreadful there. The track record, too, is a little light, and Steamer, arguably the standard in baseball’s forecasting industry, projects the utility man to post just 1.3 WAR this season (the number is closer to two when assuming full-time play).
In the free agent freeze of the last two offseasons, it’s the mid-tier player who’s been hurt the worst. Always reluctant to dish out the long term deal, teams now balk at even short-term ones for players whose production can safely be approximated by much cheaper, in-system options. Houston’s Tony Kemp, while probably not an option at shortstop, would seem to fit this bill, as would a number of others on suspected Gonzalez suitors around the league.
Overrated
Marwin is not overrated. He has been a pivotal part of this team. When top players (Altuve, Correa, Springer) have been injured he has stepped in very well defensively. He literally has played every position other than catcher and pitcher, and has played each very well. Not to mention he’s also a switch hitter with pop. He has also been clutch in the postseason. That HR against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the WS was a pivotal play. Plus he’s a good clubhouse guy. The only question is how to calculate his worth. I think he’s a perfect fit for Houston. Somewhere else? That’s probably the holdup as no one knows.
Sucks
Or he would’ve got paid
Right. Bryce and Manny suck too
I’m honestly quite shocked there aren’t 25 teams in on him. Right now, the teams I can think of that have no place for him are just Boston and NY and he’d be a tough fit with the Cubs, Dodgers and probably the Phillies (assuming they sign Harper, otherwise they could use him too).
Overrated or not, his versatility and power make him a rare commodity, even as a utility guy. He’s solid at numerous defensive positions and is capable of filling in almost anywhere on the diamond to give a guy a day off.
This is going to be that signing that happens every off-season where someone gets an absolute steal. He probably signs in the 11-20 mil range on 1 year deal with a player option for a 2nd. I can’t imagine no one will give him 10+ for 1 year.
Padres found a cheaper guy on the dfa list, Greg Garcia
Astros found a cheaper option too unfortunately.
Very.
For a rule 5 guy he has done quite well.
There hasn’t been a rule 5 guy that was picked up and stuck with the same team and played this good in a long time.
One-year pillow contract — Boras special. Prob above QO
2nd biggest disappointment this offseason, after Grandal
Lmao there is no chance anyone on planet Earth would pay Marwin Gonzalez upwards of 18 million for one season. His best quality is that he can play anywhere adequately. That in itself has value. However, you really don’t want him being your #1 option anywhere. Take away his one strong offseason in 2017 and Marwin is what? A 1.5-2WAR player. An excellent utility option but not exactly a Ben zobrist. If he gets a 3/27 that’d be a win IMO.
Offensive season*
That’s what I’m guessing will be his contract…Somewhere around 3 years and between $23-30mil…
He should be a very valuable bench piece for a contending team..His value really goes beyond his counting stats, because he’s an excellent option as a versatile 4th OF’er, a solid spot starter, a solid bench bat, and he can be a quality CI option. With that versatility, you’re looking at a player that’s going to more easily allow his team to utilize an 8-man bullpen, which more and more teams are going to these days.
Marwin’s flexibility is a real asset all in itself. With a 7-man bullpen, typically, a team’s ideal bench will consist of a back-up 1B/3B, a 4th OF’er, a backup CF, a back-up C, and a back-up 2B/SS.. With Marwin on board, it allows his team to keep him, and the only other options you’ll need is a back-up C, a 2B/SS, and a backup CF/OF…
With the added man in the bullpen, and an solid bench, it’ll allow this contender more opportunities to better mix and match during later parts of the game. Plus, that extra pen arm will help take stress and innings off his other penmates..
Not to mention, he’s a veteran clubhouse guy, that’ll help in team chemistry, and he’s just a solid player all-around. Every championship team needs a Marwin Gonzalez, and even with the re-signing of Markakis, I’d still love the Braves to take a shot on Swiss-G..With Camargo as their versatile infielder, and Marwin as another versatile CI/CO option, it would extremely help the Braves overall depth, their bench, and their versatility…Plus, with Gonzalez aboard, it’ll definitely allow Markakis to pace his self throughout the season, so it could greatly reduce the likelihood of him running out of gas during the 2nd half of the year again…
If I were the Braves and I could only spend on one guy it’d be Kimbrel over Marwin. I think Camargo can be that guy. With acuna being CF capable you don’t really have to have a center fielder on your bench cause acuna/Inciarte can cover all those slots. I’d sign another 4th OF/platoon bat w Kakes for probably a 1/3 of the cost. Gonzalez to Atlanta works for the right price but if that takes you out of the running for a guy like Kimbrel I’d pass.
@Bravesfan88 great points. I like Swiss G for a Met, a lot. Cespedes out long, and bullpen strength is strategy for Metropolitans.
The Mets added every infielder they could this offseason. Marwin makes zero sense there now. They have way too many infielders and have enough corner OF’s too. The only thing the Mets could use is a legitimate CF which Marwin certainly is not.
I keep forget Mets sign for Jed Lowrie! But still think Swiss G would have been better.
You are right, need legitimate CF. Maybe Marte is available for a trade?
X is always wrong
x has views. its not at war to see you has best comments dummy
Marwin and Boras won’t take that deal. They will hold out into the season for injury to strike if they have to, but this deal is going to be a 1 year deal, max 2 with a player option. There’s no chance Marwin locks himself up through prime seasons at that rate. He’s better off even on a 1 year 5 mil deal to establish that he’s really a dynamic offensive player. Even if he has another 1.5-2 WAR season, there will be a 3/27 deal out there for him next season.
They will definitely bet on Marwin in 2019 and go the 1 year pillow contract route. I think Boras is really going to push to get above the QA as well, but will come up just short. I’m thinking 1 year $12-13 mil with maybe a player option for a 2nd year at $10 mil. 1 WAR equals roughly $6 mil or 7 mil in payroll if I’m not mistaken? So if he’s a 1.5 WAR player, $10 mil is fair market value. Boras usually gets his guys a little more. HIs versatility adds a little value and intrigue. That’s how I landed there.
3/27 next year? not with the way owners are approaching free agency. they will hold out for 1/9 with option and keep the change.
The fact that 1 WAR equals 6-7 million is ridiculous. It’s past time for a market reset. .Pro sport/CEO salary growth vs, normal wage and salary growth has gotten totally out of whack.. A man who doesn’t put up the capital or develop the idea doesn’t deserve 40 million a year and don’t give me the crap about players being the draw, there will always be players..
“Probably above QO.” Are you serious? Can you actually see a team paying him close to $20 million for a year?! There’s literally no chance. He’d be lucky to approach $10 million on a 1 yr deal.
i think he would get more than 10, but not near 20, i would guess something close to 12, or 10-11 with incentives.
how could you possibly say “above QO” — like either you have no clue whatsoever what that means (that it’s not like the NBA where it’s based on the individual player and in the MLB is like $18M+) or you seriously just don’t have a clue as to who Gonzalez is as a player… either way you have no business making this post…
X before commenting this were you even aware that the Astros chose not to QO the guy? Why do you think that was? Because they had fully moved on? Maybe a small part yes but I’ll say it was because this guy would 100% have taken it. He came off a very average season and if that money would’ve ever been on the table I find it extremely hard to believe he’d ever consider saying no.
“X before commenting this were you even aware Astros chose not to QO the guy?” — “Why do you think that was?”
Cuz theyre cheap. The same team that chose not to QO Morton? Not buying the “health concern.” Between me and u, liked Morton, more than Happ
The Morton non QO was a mystery to me. They seemed like a team that needed a starter and at that price why not Morton? I’m still inclined to believe they have something on his medicals they don’t love as an Org. The Stros are an extremely well run organization and I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for this one for now. Marwin G on the other hand I don’t even think was ever a consideration for those reasons I listed.
“Marwin G on other hand don’t even think was ever consideration for those reasons I listed.“
Morton medical health concerns are about as believable as the 10 day DL “Phantom injury” Maybe it’s cuz I’m biased, I saw this guy shut us duwn 2017 ALCS Game-7
Maybe it’s cuz value him more than Ryu who has a checkier injury history and got tendered (Accepted) the QO himself.
My point is, think most teams would have QO’d Marwin AND Morton, if they still had those exact stats, but played for them instead
The dodgers operate like a true big market club. Ryu likely wouldn’t have been QO’d by 25+ other teams. You also saw him accept that because Ryu knew that as well. Marwin is a utility man coming off a very average year. He saw what guys like Murphy, Cozart, etc have gotten recently. He would’ve no doubt accepted that offer. I don’t think any team in baseball would’ve QO’d Marwin. Morton, I’d agree with you but Marwin? No way.
Wrong! Marwin is and has been great but he IS NOT worth $18 million. You’re thinking more like Boras than the actual team.
Not so much of a mystery. Charley was good early to middle but always had the lingering question about his shoulder. The Astros were not gonna have a starter they could count on late in the season.
As a fan I will miss old Charley, but I can understand why they refused QO on him.
NO team, I repeat NO TEAM would have given Marwin Gonzalez a QO. It would have been a Ludacris thing to do. There isn’t a GM in baseball stupid enough to pay Gonzalez (a super-utility guy) $18M+/season. How do you not get that!?! Like seriously how do you not comprehend that in no universe is Marwin Gonzalez a QO reciepient!?!?
It’s Ludicrous.
Ludacris is a rapper i believe.
Here’s’ the more intriguing question to me X. Would Marwin and Boras have taken the QO if it was offered? I think I understand what you’re getting at in that they likely would have actually rejected the qualifying offer. MLB.com had a good breakdown of his free agent value: mlb.com/news/versatile-marwin-gonzalez-valued-as-f…
Jon Heyman also said earlier that his market is everyone but one team: bleacherreport.com/articles/2805301-jon-heyman-ex-…
I do think he would have rejected a qualifying offer had it been offered. I do think the expected value for Gonzalez was much higher then what it wound up being. But its been a slow and quiet market this off-season. There’s still time for a lot of surprises to happen.
But since there’s so many people just saying “no” there is some foundation to what you’re saying. Figured I’d play a little devils advocate as I too thought Gonzalez was going to be priced out of some teams rather than being so seemingly cheaply available.
Neither of those guys are worth $18 per. That is why they didn’t get a QO. Calling the team cheap for that is just juvenile.
A QO for Gonzalez is almost the price of Kuechel for a year.
He suffered fatigue and shoulder “soreness” in the second half of the season and spent some time on the DL. When healthy he was great for the Astros, however Luhnow and Co. know he’s too big of an injury risk. That’s why he didn’t get the QO. It sucks, but it’s smart roster and money management.
If you are going to criticize someone for misspelling a somewhat difficult word like,“ludicrous”, please make sure you spell the easiest word in the English language correctly.
What word did he spell wrong, boss?
X, I like Happ better than Morton. Morton has been a middling P his whole career who had an excellent 17 and a good but injury shortened 18. I’d feel better if he was younger, but there’s more behind than ahrammead
than ahead, and unlike Happ, he has no starts in NY to see if he can do it here…
The original comment was criticizing someone for misspelling “ludicrous”. But he himself failed to spell “I” correctly. So it seemed, to me at least, that one nitpicking comment deserved another.
Grandal got offered $60M/4 from the NYMs. Hardly disappointing.
As a RS fan, I am forced to ask, is there any great difference between Gonzalez and Holt? And when Holt leaves next year, the super-U probably becomes Lin. IMHO, I wouldn’t hand out starting money to even really good bench players.
$19.5M/3.
2 year deal 15 million.
DJ got 24m over 2 yrs, nearly double your guess over 2.
DJ is one of the best defensive second baseman in baseball, and has a more consistent, albeit average career. Marwin has been average other than 2017. Teams aren’t offering big bucks for a decent year nearing 2 seasons ago.
This is more like it. I was actually thinking 2/12
I thought 2/18 . Of course I’m just an armchair GM
Overplayed his hand.
I say 2/14 or 3/21 deal.
That sounds about right
that math doesn’t make sense, a 3 year should have a lower annual cost than a 2 year
That’s the same price. He didn’t propose a 2/15 and a 3/27 here. He’s guessing it’s a 2 or 3 year deal. Nothing wrong there. I think the 2/14 is too light. If he’s signing for 2 years I think it’s 18-20MM for that.
it is still 2 completely different guesses, players up their years at a discount, s 3/21 is a fast more valuable contract to the player than a 2/14- especially one on the other side of 30
He said “or” it’s just a guess. None of us know. If he would’ve said 2/14 or 3/30 I would’ve had a problem. Think you’re criticizing that one a little too much.
Why would he take a 2 or 3 year deal at that market value? He could find a 1 year, 5 mil deal and bet that he can repeat his performance. Even if he’s just 2018 Marwin Gonzalez, there will be a 2-3 year $7-8 mil annual deal waiting for him next off-season.
If I’m Scott Boras, I’m grabbing a quick 1 year deal and trying to re-establish his 2017 value and re-enter the market next off-season. I’d be shocked to see him sign a multiyear deal unless his market picks up and someone goes crazy and offers 3/$33 or something. There’s no value in doing so. His versatility alone should guarantee he will be paid at that rate for a few years regardless if he re-establishes himself as a dynamic bat.
Boras doing.
I love blaming Boras, but this is the owners and front offices making a statement. Its not just the Harper/Machado contracts that have come down. There’s less and less big deals being given out to average players. Hosmer was an exception, but guys like Moustakas that hit the market, front offices just aren’t spending on. I think we are going to see a larger split in contracts moving forward. You’ll have your $300 mil Bryce Harpers and Stantons, etc. and most of the rest of the league will struggle to secure deals north of $50 mil. Those “above average” players aren’t getting the deals they were a few years ago. Do you think Heyward or Upton or any of those guys would get deals north of $50-$75 mil in this market, even at the point they signed their deals? Believe it or not, its the un or lesser insured middle of the pack contracts that I think that drive the owners craziest these days.
Marwin is just the latest casualty.
I’ve been saying this for a while. With any decent minor league system, you should always have a failed MI prospect that can give you 300-400 quality innings at minimum wage. For the RS, it is Holt, probably followed by Lin. Same with the BP.. You really should have a couple of minimum wage RPs in the back of the BP that are at least competitive.
I agree. A team should be able to churn out at least a couple of minimum wage bench bats, bullpen arms, and one or two back end SP’s on a yearly basis if they want to remain competitive every season. Paying market value for these bottom roster players is a waste of resources.
The Cardinals should just sign him already
I was thinking the same thing. Then just stick him in right field.
He’ll get something like 2/25mm from the one of the teams that loses out on Machado or Harper.
That’s a real disappointing consolation prize. I’m not sure if the teams that are in on Harper and Machado should really be in on Marwin as a backup plan. I’d just as soon wait it out for next season if I were say the white Sox and try for arenado or others.
Yes. I can’t see the White Sox ponying up a multi-year contract to Marwin Gonzalez with a $7-9MM AAV. They already have two much younger versatile switch-hitters on their roster who will command considerably less dollars.
Leury Garcia plays 6 positions including all three in the OF along with SS, 2B and 3B. He won’t come close to Gonzalez offense but can match his defense and is considerably better at his natural SS position with a cannon arm.
Yolmer Sanchez won’t match Gonzalez’ offense either but does provide a stellar glove at 2B along with good defense at SS and 3B. Sanchez would become the White Sox primary backup infielder if they are fortunate in signing Manny Machado in the coming weeks.
The White Sox are also at least one year away from becoming a factor in the AL Central. Gonzalez would be a waste of money on the South Side and is better served playing on a bonafide contender with his next contract.
This guy is a good writer. Wish more MLBTR writers wrote with this kind of style, clarity, and concision.
Nice try, Bradley.
Ha!!
Puts the other writers to shame……
Using the same buzzwords and phrases from a shared stylebook as they try to influence public opinion; noting stats to run down players and teams they don’t like, while noting other stats to trumpet players and teams they do.
Mr. Bradley has a long career ahead of him. Probably will have to get past the 13 year-old mentality found in sports writing and political writing; and the 10 year-old mentality found in writing about TV, movies, and just about every other form of entertainment.
Hopefully he gets past all of that and can reach Samuel’s top notch standards. Be a shame to let such a respected commenter down.
This is MLBTR, not the New York Times. Not sure what you are looking to achieve with your glowing review of a part time blog writer except to let us know that you fanboying over him. If a serious read with some depth is what you are looking for, then you are going to be disappointed on a daily basis here.
Megaj.. Tim’s site here is far better than the NYT and as far as I know? Doesn’t attempt to force any loony agenda on anyone.
Loony agenda? Are you one of those Make America White Again guys?
Comparing the NYT as a beacon….LMFAO…
Have to agree with you johnsilver. You can add the Washington Post, Huffington, and just about every other media outlet out there to that group.
No, he is just stating facts. It doesn’t matter what your political affiliation is, it is quite obvious who is controlling the media these days. It takes a keen eye and a lot of fact checking and common sense to know what is actually happening. You can find it without having to read or hear out of context left or right leaning news.
Is there job creation? Is the economy better? Is unemployment down? Are more American jobs being created? Is border security really an issue? Would a wall help? How big a threat is Iran, N. Korea, China, or Russia? Is the new tax code going to be effective? Are cops really targeting minorities? Are guns the problem or will violent criminals find other ways to harm? Is racism as big a problem as what the media portrays it to be, or do most real people live their lives in harmony with everybody else? The media outlets are the last people you should trust if you want answers to these questions. They are not interested in giving you the whole truth or an unbiased opinion. Whether it NYT, CNN, or FOX news, their goal is to emotionalize their viewers to gather support for their own agenda. Instead go to the source. For example- If you want to know whats happening at the border, ask a border patrol agent or someone who is living on the border that has had to deal with it.
100% agree megaj.
Sadly, continuing this convo further, risks deletion.
I just wanted to add Vox. I consider them “left” Breitbart.
At least Breitbart has comment section. Vox does not. Common theme…
1 year 12 million
Is this annually or total? Confusing.
Total
Same issue as you I chose over 21 just Cuz I think it’ll be like 3 for 21 or close to it!
Cmon bro. By the time you get down to the 21-30MM number on that poll if you don’t know it’s total we have a serious problem. It’s pretty obvious from taking a look at the poll even if you didn’t read a single word in the article.
Was hoping cleaveland would sign him. Maybe he will fall to their price range. Doubt it, but would love to have him
Trash article by Bradley. He doesn’t even know of the offers Marwin has gotten and rejected. Anybody that says he’s overrated hasn’t watched him play everyday.
I thought the Jays would be a smart landing spot for 2 or even 3 years to balance the potential growth of Vlad. Perhaps Toronto’s issue with Boras, admittedly more conflicting through the previous regime, are playing a part in this. The Galvis signing all but precludes it but I am fairly confident Marwin isn’t going to settle for the same price as he did.
Toronto is a couple of years away. I wouldn’t commit to any 2-3 year players. If TO was looking to spend, but not necessarily win, they might be better off using that money to lock in/extend guys like Pillar & Grichuk. The have a lot of talent coming up, but they should have at least some continuity.
.737 OPS. Honestly he doesn’t deserve more than 8 mil per season.
It’s something to hit roughly league average while being a Swiss Army knife playing every position on the diamond. That’s where his value lies. As an everyday player at one position he’s not nearly as appealing. So you have to look at that OPS in a different light but I generally agree with you I wouldn’t go past 9-10 a year on a 2- 3 year pact.
Completely agree on the AAV. 3/24ish. Maybe 2/30 with a vesting option for a third year.
That’s about what Tebow hit at AA last year, time to call him up…
$12mil AAV 2 years. Something like what DJ LMH signed up for
3 at 21 max.
As long as the fans will buy second rate teams, the MLB Owners will keep building 2nd rate teams. Its a race to the bottom instead of a race to the top;
Here’s the obligatory teams won’t spend post on a player who overestimated his market because frankly he’s not that great. Marwin is not great at any one spot. He’s adequate at many spots. He’s had one special season in his career that looks like a big ol outlier. Should teams spend? Yes, they should. I’m all for it but it’s pretty clear it needs to be on shorter deals. If Marwin wants to bet on himself take a one year higher AAV deal and post another 4 WAR year.
I do agree teams need to be incentivized to spend more but it should be shorter deals. Sign these guys to 2-3 year deals at the most but consistently do it. The halos certainly would’ve been better off having that 13 million they owed a guy like cozart or Pujols if we want to look at the top of the market freed up to sign guys this offseason. They could’ve given Marwin his 2/26 or 3/39 if they weren’t bogged down by these crappy underwater salaries. Getting away from that is good for the game. However I agree the funds that were going to these underwater deals need to be reinvested on short term pacts to players.
Everyone wins when you don’t have unproductive past prime players like Pujols eating a quarter of your teams payroll. And can instead can pay your Marwin G’s and Mike Moustakas’ their 10-12 mil over a ST deal. That’s ideally how it should work. Even then you can get bogged down with a bad deal IE cozart but that is much less restrictive when you don’t have a 30MM useless Pujols. Or a 50+MM useless Ian Kennedy or Phil Hughes.
One of the problems is people are tired of hearing the name Boras every single offseason. One person whose only claim to fame is that he is the King of the buzzards. Can anyone honestly name more than a couple of “famous” agents” without looking it up? Do we need to know this guy personally? Yeah, it is so cute that the King of the bottom feeders gave this guy a nickname…NOT. The other problem is that although Gonzalez has some skills, he is still a utility man and a hole plugger asking for big bucks.
Boras should stick to what he knows best and leave the nicknames to people 40 years younger than him.
The Brewers have no interest for a good reason, and his name is Keston Hiura. Worst case scenario is that whatever platoon the Brewers employ at 2nd ends up being terrible, AND Hiura stinks it up in AAA, they’ll just grab a rental at the deadline (assuming they’re still in it at that point). I’ve got to think Hiura is your starter at 2B on opening day in 2020, so anything more than a 1-year deal is out of the question. I doubt Marwin’s market falls into the 1-year/$8 million territory, which is probably the most Milwaukee would be willing to spend on him.
No one but Boras and uninformed writers call him Swiss G. Fans and anyone that follows the Astros call him Margo.
If Marwin was worth $18 mill. a season the Astros would have gave him a qualifying offer. But he is a great player and would improve any team. He has more than earned a long term contract. He plays Gold Glove caliber defense at any infield position and plays a solid left field. I’d be fine with the Astros giving him a 5 year $60 mill deal.
5 years is pushing it. I’d give him 2 years guaranteed and club option on the 3rd
Jesus buddy. A 1/18 is a hell of a lot more team friendly than a 5/60. Only you and Boras are hoping for that. He’s going to be fortunate to get half of that sum.
Marwin would fit on literally any team in baseball because of how versatile and clutch he is. As one of his teammates said ( I forget who), “When you have a problem you call Marwin.”
I’ve been wanting the Yankees to sign him all winter, as he’d be perfect with our health question marks. Still could happen I guess, but not as likely now. He will be a good buy for whichever team does have him
30 years old. 3 years of quality left at a high level. For sure can play after that, if he still hits. It depends on what you want to pay for. . . If I’m a team. What are needs. Backup in LF, 1b, 2nd, 3rd, hopefully not short… But in a pinch. Can he play Right. ? You’d have to go at least 10 mil a year. For the Power Potential. I’d say 3/35 Mil is doable at a high end. But if I’m the Giants. I’d go no more than 2/20. . . Maybe get it done…
His main problem in FA is also his biggest strength as a player. His value lies in his ability to play (almost) anywhere on the diamond. But when you’re building a team in the off-season you don’t need a guy to “plug-in” at position X – because you build your team with a guy to play position X. The reason Marwin’s so valuable is when the team he’s on’s Position X gets hurt he steps in… then does it at position Y and Z. But like I said in the off-season when FA contracts are signed… a team doesn’t have holes at XYZ – or if they do… they fill them with a pure Starting caliber player at that specific spot. It’s almost like Marwin Gonzalez should be looked at like purchasing insurance. He’s only got so much value until guys on your roster start getting hurt – then he becomes invaluable filling in at a near-starter’s level until the guys healthy, etc. But as a one-off he just doesn’t beat buys out 1:1
Like for example right now if you have a hole at 3B… Moustakas is probably a better option than Gonzalez (you can argue this point but for the sake of my argument go with it and assume Moustakas represent any average to above average 3B) – so as the GM you sign him. Say you have a hole at 2B well you go out earlier in the off-season and sign LeMahieu, etc. etc. Now if any of those teams already had Margo they wouldn’t need to ‘go out and get xyz’ but then don’t and seeing as 1:1 the other guy’s a better fit he gets left behind. it’s a bizarre catch-22. Once he signs somewhere he’ll no doubt provide ample value to his new team – but on paper trying to quantify signing a guy without a designated position for him to play… makes anything over $5M hard to justify — even if in reality it will pay-off (as insurance often does) down the line!
1yr 5 million
Conventional wisdom would suggest Marwin’s price has dropped the longer he’s a free agent. Many teams can use him. Infield, outfield, wherever. It all depends on the team. Someone might surprise and give him a nice contract but I see too many teams already bowing out of the Marwin discussions due to prior signings and luxury tax situations.
Somebody’s going to pay Swiss G’s his sweet Swiss cheese. I think Minnesota ought to wake up and fork it over.
He’s way overrated. People keep focusing on “wow he can play everywhere” but lots of mediocre hitters with athleticism can do that. He’s just getting the hype for being on a popular WS team. He hasn’t done anything not already done by Sean Rodriguez, Kelly Johnson, etc…
It would be nice to have him on my team but only at utility player prices. Otherwise, just sign a different utility player.
Reflect Sean Rodriguez and Kelly Johnson have never had a day in their life where they were as good as a Marwin.
I’ll give you Rodríguez, but Kelly Johnson was a very good player in the late 00’s. He was just done being effective by his 30th birthday.
You testify against yourself that you are a baseball moron.
Sounds like the Dodgers type of player, maybe that’s a good fit.
If he could play SS adequately he’d be a perfect fit for the Cardinals. But they already have Gyorko who can play 1b, 2b, 3b, and they have plenty of outfielders.
Brewers? old player for stearns when he was in HOU. Would fit in nicely and could play everywhere
Eduardo Escobar taking 3yrs and $21M looks more and more shrewd every day.
I know that teams typically sign yearly contracts, but is it possible to sign a contract till the first of August? Teams typically shell out if they know they are in the playoff run.
Have the people commenting seen his 2017 stats or his second half of 2018 stats? The guy is much more than a “fill in” or “bench player”.
Marwin will still sign for 4 years 40-44 million is my guess.
I want 500 million over 10 years. No offers? Must be an owner’s plot to keep me down. Surely it can’t be my asking price…right?
I actually think he’ll get paid quite well considering the versatility and age. 4 years at 7-8M per year is quite do able when he can slot in at a different position everyday and tally 500PA.
He might be able to wait out someone giving him up to 8-9M per year simply because super utility guys like him have their value but I dont think he’ll get more than 40M.
Comp=Cabrera just signed for 1/$3.5
I hate reading Swiss G. He was literally never called that until a few months ago.
I think Boras is overplaying his hand on all his players. Personally, I think it’s got to be super stressful for them. Sure, they might get a few million more, but piece of mind is worth something.
I love what MarGo has done for the Astros, but I don’t see a spot for him. They could DFA Kemp or Diaz, but I would rather put that money towards a Verlander extension. Would 2/40 secure Verlander?
Swiss G
This is yet another Boras blunder. For every ‘good’ deal he secures for one of his clients, he completely blows it for another two. Perhaps he is looking at MLB stats too much and thinking he’s batting .333 (HOF stats)???
Baseball had put a label on Marwin, and he broke through the label and proved them wrong by going on a HR rampage in early 2017. The rampage got him everyday playing time where he continued to have a great year by leading Houston in RBLs. He was also clutch in the playoffs and WS, hitting the HR that turned the series around against the best closer in the game. Marwin started 2018 terrible, but then caught fire the 2nd half and put up the same numbers as 2017 in the 2nd half. He then was the MVP against Cleveland in the playoffs, while he and Bergman were the only 2 that hit against Boston. Marwin is a complete bargain at around 9-10 million a year, because he will most likely put up 2017 numbers again. Everyone knows that Marwin is a clutch hitter in Houston. If I am a GM I am jumping on Marwin, because if he comes even close to his 2017 numbers, he is a total bargain at 9-10 million per year.
Your some fan, you would have never won the world series without Marwin. And you think you going to be able to say the same thing for Diaz? Your a joke!