The Cubs have agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, per ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers (via Twitter). He’ll report to Triple-A, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
After wrapping up his lengthy tenure with the Rockies in less than inspiring fashion last year, Gonzalez hit the open market in search of a bounceback opportunity. He ultimately got one in Cleveland, but wasn’t able to take advantage.
Long a star slugger, the 33-year-old just didn’t hit with the Indians. He delivered a .210/.282/.276 slash in 117 plate appearances before finally receiving the boot from a team that’s desperately in need of outfield production.
The situation isn’t quite the same in Chicago, which helps explain the potential match here. With loads of uncertainty surrounding Ben Zobrist, there’s a roster spot to play with. The Cubs could add Gonzalez as another piece of a mix-and-match outfield group, perhaps swapping him in for the just-added Jim Adduci.
Gonzalez has a history of laying waste to right-handed pitching. He has slashed .298/.364/.535 for his career. Even after being adjusted for park effects, that’s good for a 126 wRC+. If he’s to make a comeback and reestablish himself at the game’s highest level, it’s likely going to be jump-started by finding his groove against righties. He’ll also have to stop hammering the ball into the ground, which he did at a 58.3% rate with the Indians.
Thought the giants would sign him
I’m sure they will…once the Cubs cut him. Fahran Zaidi has at least 3 more mediocre minor league journeymen to run through, with maybe an Austin Slater or Chris Shaw call up mixed in, before he goes after CarGo.
Maybe they tried. If you’re CarGo, are you more likely to want to play for the Cubs, or the Giants? Pretty easy answer.
The Giants. I make more money given their depth.
The Cubs aren’t exactly loaded with depth either. And if you make it to the show with the Giants, you’re still playing meaningless baseball.
This smells like Descalso DFA.
He has been terrible, but Cargo isn’t much better.
Replaces Adducci
Also Zobrist likely done for the year.
He has a 2 year contract
Tough take right there.
Ian Happ says WTF?
Haha
And everyone else says ‘stop striking out’.
yeah. 30% so rate in AAA doesn’t exactly scream problem solved lol
“Cargo” provides an insurance policy in the event the Cubs finally decide to pony up for a legitimate closer who is “affordable”. Without a bevy of elite prospects on the farm they may need to trade from among some of their talented young outfielders on the active roster.
I could see some possible matches with the White Sox for Alex Colome who is arbitration controllable through the 2020 season. It’s been the m.o. of the Cubs front office to deal for pitching as the summer trade deadline approaches including the deal that netted them Jose Quintana from the White Sox for Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn would certainly have an interest in any number of younger controllable Cubs including OF’s Albert Almora and Kyle Schwarber on their active roster along with Ian Happ at AAA Iowa. Versatile infielder David Bote might be another possibility.
Would Theo Epstein dare to make another trade with his Southside neighbors?
Colome wouldn’t be worth any of those outfielders. If the Cubs traded Almora or Happ, it would have to be for Colome and another major league piece to make it worth it. Otherwise, they’re giving up way too much
wow you are an idiot. happ has zero value and almora is probably a 4th guy. you want a closer it will cost you this year. if you dont like it, sign kimbrel lol
Almora and Bote sounds fair.
Don’t respond like an 11 year old.
You dont trade almora at all. Happ, Russell and one or two others for 2 bullpen arms. Brad hand and Kirby Yates possibly or Diaz from the mets.
Check and see what it cost CLE to get Hand from SD. A top 15 prospect in baseball. This season, Hand has been great and the Indians aren’t going to trade him for two guys who have severely lost their shine when other teams will offer better prospects. Same goes for Diaz. NYM had to take on a monster contract to get him and he has several year of control left. It would further gut their farm to land those guys.
The Sox already have an elite defensive OF in Engel. Why would the Sox want Almora? Cubs fans are dopes if they think Almora is worth a quality closer straight up.
Happ for Colome would be a sensible deal for both teams. Colome gives Cubs an average closer (not great by any means) and gives the White Sox a versatile switch hitting bat with some upside. They aren’t going to get a top tier player for Colome, but Happ is a good buy low candidate for them.
Colome is an 11/11 closer.
All Happ does is K.
Sox will take Caratini and Bote and Sox will give you Colome and Castillo back. Alonso, too, if u want him.
Why would Cleveland or anyone else want Addison Russell?
Everyone is acting as if Russel has came back up and sucked. In 51 ABS he has 4 long balls and is batting a good 275. If he keeps it he could be excellent trade value or even a good piece for the Cubs.
Sox fans know about zero value.
Agreed
Dumb
The Sox have nothing elite. Thought you might like to know.
You’re delusional.
Spoken like a true idiot… you’re high pricing Almora and Happ. Lmao neither are true starters on a good team.
You’re low balling both.
With their rich farm system where do you think Bote, Happ would fit in the Sox plans and without Zobrist the outfield depth of the Cubs took a hit so I don’t see Jed pulling the trigger on Almora or Schwarber for a closer. This is a scenario where things just don’t line up for these teams at this time.
The Cubs have the worst starting OF corp in the big leagues. The Sox do not want or need any of the Cubs’ OFs, especially for a legitimate closer.
nice to see you’ve finally recovered enough from the shock of all your preseason predictions already being shattered to come back and make more outlandishly bad claims… i was a bit worried you’d been broken by exposure to reality…
So, where do you rank the Indians outfield?
You got a point to make or nah?
Where would the Tiger outfield rank?
there are at leas 10-20 teams with worse outfields than the Cubs, stay off the weed.
Potentially second worst—-that combo of Jimenez, Tilson and Garcia far outpaces what the comes have. None of the three (at this time) would start in the Cubs outfield. Zero of them.
Comes?
You just can’t help lookin’ lame. Sad
Your outfield comments could be one of the dumbest I have ever heard. They have 2 younger developing players still and according to fan graphs the Cubs outfield ranks 7 th in homeruns and 9th In RBIS in all of the MLB… do your research
This is why you can’t talk to cubs fans about baseball. I’m obviously talking about offense, but it’s easy to misunderstand everything you read on the internet…every time. Schwarber, Almora, and Heyward are most definitely the worst OFFENSIVE OUTFIELD in the league.
if you wanna actually put numbers behind that at any time, feel free.
Cubs fans kind of like actual evidence before they just take the word of some known troll who’s pretty much universally wrong about everything…
I had to actually look up who the Sox starting OF is damn that team is only half put together with actual starting quality players!
But whatever- since chisoxcity doesn’t think defense is important if you only look at offensive war the Sox “starting” outfielders of Cordell, Garcia and Eloy have 0.0, 1.1 and -0.1 oWar.
Cubs offensive only OF War for Schwarber, Almora and Heyward is 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5.
So whatever.
I was talking about offense. Haha. They are the 7th and 9th best in fangraphs for RBIS and HRS. IN OFFENSE
I was replying to pea brain not you Gavin. Sometimes this site doesn’t post responses where they were intended to go.
Cubs have 4 of the top 12 OPS players in all of baseball currently patrolling their infield/behind the dish so having an adequate outfield is enough. Middle of the pack is fine enough.
“Worst in baseball” per soxcity is just bad trolling even if it turns out he’s only in first grade.
Chisoxcity never gets anything right still!
Is the Cubs OF top caliber? No. They’re 15th in OF WAR at -0.1. Meanwhile the high flying White Sox have improved from their last place in baseball OF WAR in 2018 and have skyrocketed up to 25th at -2.5!!!! How ‘bout that!
Cubs ain’t great but Sox far worse. And I ain’t giving up Almora for Colome not a chance.
lol….. grow a brain.
Since everybody’s throwing Sox cub trade ideas how about this…
Sox get Russell, Almora, caratini & Happ
Cubs get Colome, K. Herrera, Castillo, & Jay (when he comes back)
This works because the cubs get to dump Russell and Happ, 2 guys they’re clearly not high on. Almora isn’t great but he’s better than what the Sox have.
Cubs get 2 bullpen pieces
Lineups still look solid.
Sox:
C. McCann
1B Abreu
2B Russell
Ss anderson
3B moncada
Of Jimenez
Of Almora
Of Happ
Dh Alonso
Cubs
C Contreras
1B Rizzo
2B Bote
Ss Baez
3B Bryant
Of schwarber
Of Heyward
Of Jay/Cargo
Doesn’t hurt the cubs roster, lets the Sox shake out some wild cards and see who sinks and swims. Cubs get some pen help, Sox sell some veterans.
Get over it—the Cubs are not going to dump Russell and they aren’t going to have an outfield spot of Jay/Cargo.
I could see that trade happening. The cubs are hitting a lot of Homer’s now but not getting enough guys on base for them. A good on base guy like jay would help and the 2 relievers would be great. I could see that.
Don’t want Russell on the Sox.
Anderson is a terrible SS he is on pace to make 50 errors, put him in CF put
Manny Machado at SS, oh that’s right Kinny Williams didn’t want him.
You can’t trade almora part of a package less than Edwin Diaz. Those guys you mentioned are garbage
Good sneaky signing for the Cubbies. Adds depth and veteran presence
Great sneaky signing…that’s what Cleveland thought too but he was a wasted signing and hoping he’d find his stroke.
As a team, the Indians made Joey Gallo look like George Brett with their awful hitting. Cubs are giving a former star a minor league deal to be half a hitter he was at his peak. If he makes it to the big league team, he will be surrounded by a better coaching staff and more established veterans that can help him out
LOL! So I’m a month when he reappears on this same forum after the Cubbies realize despite their superior hitting coaches he no longer has his power stroke I’ll get another chuckle.
It’s a no damage deal. Can only possibly help. Does no harm whatsoever Who cares if he does bad or good. It was a nice signing that can only give upside. Who knows. There have been players who have came into a different scenery and played as their past forms
100% agree with you Gavin. Change of scenery has been helpful for a bunch of players recently
Yup, he hasn’t lost it it’s just waiting to be found again. The top-flight coaching staff they have in Chicago will help this youngster find his stroke before he turns the ripe young age of 34.
Yes. Another dumb comment I get to prove wrong! I’ll give you an example on the Cubs from just a year ago… remember the pitcher they got at the all star break last year. Oh yeah, Cole Hamels. What was his ERA last year? And ya, he’s still looking decent this year too
Thanks Gavin!
Guess the wonderful coaching staff didn’t make a difference as he was worse in Chicago than he was in Cleveland.
Crickets from the two geniuses that get to prove another dumb comment wrong. The dumb comment that within a month he gets cut because he has no bat/power left seemed pretty spot on after all, thanks geniuses!
ANYTHING to get Descalso off the field. Would be nice having Tommy La Stella about now. Can he suit up tomorrow against the Deadbirds?
Well, I just say what the heck. Why not. Maybe Cargo can help. With Zobrist on leave, possibly for the entire season and other roster question marks like Mark Zagunis, this is not a bad move. I remember when Cargo was in his prime and an absolute Cub menace. Ian Happ must really be the bowls of the teams doghouse to get passed over again.
“Bowls”?
i know happ is struggling but cargo gets signed? happ having issues with maddon?
Happ is struggling in AAA so logic says keep him in AAA, i should think
He is striking out 30% of the time in AAA. Batting .243. Happ isn’t doing much to show he is ready to contribute.
Package Ian Happ and others for Giles and Galvis, get rid of Descalo.
I have a feeling that Happ burned some bridges with his reported “very angry” exit. There haven’t been many updates from the Cubs about Happ. His numbers at AAA are not good, so I wonder if his attitude has turned the team off.
In any case, CarGo is worth a look.
this could be a worthwhile experiment for the Cubs, honestly. Iapoce and co. seem to be pretty good at getting people to hit the ball into the air, so if they can just get CarGo to stop driving everything into the dirt, there may be some value left in the bat
and if he can stay healthy, but that’s always a concern with Cargo…
They have way too many oitfulers. This makes no sense.
They have three outfielders—-Schwarber, Almora, and Heyward. They have a lot of interchangeable talent that can play the outfield…but they have only three outfielders on the current roster. That’s really not too many.
And guys get hurt. And the Cubs don’t have a guy in AAA right now that step in for any length of time should one of their primary OFers go down.
Having a proven veteran in Iowa who they can fall back on could be vitally important later in the season. Not saying that will be CarGo, but for the price it’s well worth the gamble. There is no risk if they can’t salvage anything from him.
Exactly, Petrie———you cannot have too many of anything at any position in baseball.
Bryant as well plays the outfield. I hope they dfa adduci. That dude isn’t good enough for the tigers. How could be possibly be good fit for a good team.
Bryant can’t play 3b AND OF at the same time. And if one of the starting OFers goes down, even if you do move other people around, that still leaves you down one OFer from the roster and one bat from the bench.
and, again, this is a minor league deal. They don’t even have to put him on the 40-man until after they see if he’s worth it. and if he’s not, they cut him and it costs them all but nothing in baseball terms.
how can it be a good fit? well, basically because he’s got a much longer track record of success than Aducci, and that’s who he’d be replacing on the roster, effectively… IF they like what they see.
Cubs need a 4th OF. Stop trying to make KB into Zobrist.
Cubs need KB on the field, OF in a pinch.
Bote, Baez, Russell, Descalso have Never played the OF Ever.
Try Cargo once / twice a week.
With some of the crazy outfield walls, collisions keep KB out of the OF.
If rather they fix the bullpen.. their offense besides descalso is just fine. Russell is slowly building his value if you can package Russell, happ and 2 mid level prospects with some upside. you could get Edwin Diaz or Ken Giles or maybe Brad hand or kirby Yates. otherwise save those guys for something else and sign kimbrel.
the bullpen isn’t nearly as bad as you were told it was going to be before the season. Take a deep breath, release the panic button, and actually take a look at the stats instead of what they were supposed to be.
also, signing CarGo does nothing to prevent them from adding relievers later. it’s a minor league contract, meaning he doesn’t have to go on the 40-man roster. Signing CarGo and adding relievers exist as completely seperate concepts right now.
and stop deluding yourself that Russell has trade value.
By the way—how did the acquisitions of Hand and Britton and any other closer for that matter turn out last year. Do you think the Brewers are going to dump Hader because he’s lost three games on homers in the 9th or later this season. Would I like the Cubs to have higher than a top five bullpen? Sure—-but it is what is now. Top five—and more importantly it is May 30th, not September 30th.
Let the people that get paid millions to stay calm and not make knee jerk reactions to appease stupid commenters on line do their job…they have a pretty good record at what they do.
Maddon will be having him play third, and close by Sunday.
Also coach first AND third at the same time
Well, blame Theo. He signs washed up crap free agents and expects a miracle. You get what you pay for. Schwarber, Almora and Heyward have to be the worst hitting OF in the league. Maddon didn’t sign these guys, Theo did.
if he only signs crap, yet gets a first place team out of it, it would seem his expectations have been met….
Dude, look at your division standings in the NL Central. Everyone is playing poorly, especially the Cubs. If that’s the limit of your ability to evaluate players, you’re in for a rude awakening.
Why do you comment if your sole purpose is to troll?
ChiSoxCity’s mullet gets in a tangle anytime something Cubs related comes up.
What division are the Sox in ? Oh yeah, The AL Central. The WORST in baseball for a long time. 1 team is at .500, 3 way below .500 and the only reason Minny has a good record is because they play all the other crap in the division so many times.
They’ve only played 14 of their 54 games against the AL Central… The Cubs have played 7 against Miami… A gift from the MLB. I hope you send them a thank you card.
So your response to being proven wrong is to argue that reality is misleading and your assumptions are the only truth?
come on dude, at least make it hard to mock you…
ChiSoxCity——glad the Cubs made a minor league move today so you feel like you are employed. I’m pretty sure what ever minor league division the Cubs AAA club is in is better than the AL Central.
“Blah-blah-blah——blah-blah-blahhhh…”
that, sadly, is the most baseball knowledge i’ve seen you drop here…
Don’t worry Priggs it will even out—-by the end of it the Sox will play the Royals, Tigers and Orioles close to 45 times—-over a quarter of their schedule. If the Cubs went 6-1 against the Marlins, the Sox should be able to record about a 36-9 against that pile of crap. That’s a pretty good start, isn’t it.
“Baseball knowledge” and cubs fan——two things that do not go together.
a weak blanket attack against an entire group of people you have an admitted bias against does little to lend any weight to your opinions.
especially when those opinions are so laughably bad…
Post a comment when you get to .500
Sox have No Fans, they are irrelevant, they should move to Vegas.
I just gave you baseball knowledge and educated you on the Cubs outfield stats Not that bad But according to you ranking in too 10 for RBI and HR is one of the worst in the MLB
Priggs89 Everybody in the central plays the Marlins 7 times. Are you new?
Petrie000 HaHa! So true and he doesn’t even know it.
Damn I really thought the Sox would sign him
Any thinking of Cubs / W.sox deal remember we have gotten SCREWED BY SOX ( sammy aside) u would steer clear of them & yankees, dodgers !
I don’t mind trading with the Sox, but i’m just grateful the Cubs aren’t run by any of the dopes who are desperately trying to give away important players for anybody labeled a ‘closer’ just because they heard in the off-season the Cubs needed one.
I’m still trying to come up with a trade that the Sox screwed the Cubs with? Garland for Karchner worked out better for the Sox you could say, but not exactly a screw job. Most of the trades ended up without any impact at all.
I’m afraid that just the Dylan Cease part of the Quintana trade may end up looking like a huge mistake on Theo’s part.
I would take Cargo over Adduci. It’s a very solid move that could pay dividends, as his glove is still reasonably solid for a guy in his mid-30’s, and theres enough protection in the line-up where he may be able to see some pitches he likes.
Couldn’t agree more.
I don’t understand all the overconfident shade being thrown. It’s a minor league contract. Nobody thinks he’s going to be MVP.