TODAY: Gonzalez has officially been released, as per Roster Roundup (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY: The Indians have designated veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez for assignment in order to open a spot on the active roster for catcher Eric Haase, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal tweets. Haase was already on the 40-man roster, but the club opted to cut ties with Gonzalez rather than place Roberto Perez on the 7-day concussion list. Perez apparently tested well enough following last night’s concussion that the team isn’t currently planning to place him on the IL (though he’ll quite likely still sit out the next couple of days at the least).
Gonzalez, 33, will see his time with Cleveland come to an end after 30 games and 117 ugly plate appearances that didn’t inspire much confidence. The three-time All-Star and former NL batting champ hit just .210/.282/.276 with a pair of homers, a double and 33 strikeouts in his short time with the Indians. That type of production wouldn’t cut it even if the Indians were a first-place club, but the fact that they’re sitting six and a half games back in the American League Central only further creates a sense of urgency to coax production out of what has been a dismal lineup.
Gonzalez is the second former superstar with whom the Indians have parted ways since Opening Day; Hanley Ramirez cracked the Opening Day roster as the team’s designated hitter but was cut loose after 16 games and 57 plate appearances worth of similarly disappointing numbers.
With Gonzalez now subtracted from the outfield mix, the Indians will free up additional at-bats for younger options. Oscar Mercado has shown well in his first handful of MLB games, and the Indians could take further looks at some combination of Tyler Naquin, Greg Allen, Jake Bauers and Jordan Luplow their corner outfield/DH rotation. The Athletic’s Zack Meisel tweets that former first-round pick and top prospect Bradley Zimmer, who is recovering from 2018 shoulder surgery, is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus sometime next week, so he’ll emerge as an option in the not-too-distant future as well.
Cleveland will have a week to either find a trade partner for Gonzalez or release him. An outright assignment is technically possible but seems unlikely; Gonzalez would have to accept the assignment despite knowing that there are younger options that the team wishes to evaluate at length before giving him another look. The most probable outcome is that Gonzalez will simply be released and look for a new opportunity to rebuild his stock following a change of scenery.
I don’t disagree with getting rid of CarGo (I love him but he just might not have a lot left), but Perez literally has a concussion and won’t be available for several days.
They could have DFAed CarGo in a week, and probably would have when Naquin returned from the IL anyway. But at that point, you might as well put Perez on the 7-day concussion IL and not play a man down.
Oh look, the next guy that will be in the Giants OF.
Immediately thought the same thing.
I could only happen on a Minors Contract,He’s already been available to them,don’t see it,Vogt has played well enough in the Outfield
Yep. Or toronto and revere to cleveland
I know of Rivere, but who’s this guy named Toronto? 🙂
They sort of get forgotten because they’re in Canada but they are the Blue Jays
Whos Rivere?
Haha, you got to learn to spell correctly before you troll.
Paul
I thought the same thing, but I think they may be actually considering going with younger options at this point.
No. CarGo is nothing like all the other guys the Giants have claimed.
He’s not a catcher
Except that he was atleast at one time good.
Or Mets. I mean they brought Gomez and Kemp in so why not him
I know, it happens all the time with older players, but it seems like yesterday Gonzalez was one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. I wish him well.
I feel like the Rockies were incredibly close to giving this guy an extension just 2 years ago. What a bullet they dodged.
Maybe not. He has hit 70 points higher for his career at home (even higher if you factor out 2008 and 2019 where he wasn’t in Coors). Quite frankly, he might still be a good player in Coors.
HOME / AWAY career splits
BA – .320 /.250
OBP – .379 / .306
Slugging – .584 / .419
OBPS – .963 / .725
In other words, he is below guys like Brett Gardner and Jean Segura for their careers in OBPS when playing away. At home, he is second only to Mike Trout among active players in non-split career OBPS.
So, they may have dodged a bullet, but if he stayed at Coors his numbers would almost certainly be better.
I get the point you’re trying to make, but they’d still have to play 81 games away from Coors too
He started slipping that last year with the Rox…always like the dude, but what happened to him almost overnight??
Mistake for not trying to get Brantley back and trading away Encarnacion. Such a shame for a team that should’ve won a World Series but will be averaging 12K fans at 70 wins in a few years.
Should’ve won when? They’ve had multiple chances and choked every single time
2016 World Series. Losing in extras in Game 7 to the better team isn’t choking
Losing when they had a 3 games to 1 lead is choking.
The series was one game apiece. The Indians won the next 2, but lost to Lester and Arrieta. The Cubs were a slightly better team. Losing to those two and going 7 is not a choke.
Woods. Forgot about that. Thank you for the correction.
2017 wasn’t any better. Hahaha
*woops
Indians did not choke, the pitchers that carried them got worn out in the long series. it is amazing the Indians made it that far. Got to give them a lot of credit. If Salazer or Carlos Carrasco was healthy, they probaly easily win the World Series.
Also the the Cubs were the better team,
but the better team doesn’t always win….particularly in a short series!!
Right? And Brantley didn’t cost very much…..
A lot of teams missed out on Brantley. I bet the Giants wish they’d landed him.
Is it just me, or does CarGo always look like he’s just not having a good time?
I thought the same. Seemed lackadaisical in the box, too.
Man, what happened to this guy? went from one of the most lethal offensive outfielder out there to a bum.
Coors field and aging happened.
a lot of whining about the Coors Field effect….but, all the other MLB teams pass through there too…so ya wanna take those stats away too. Hey, guys like Larry Walker and Todd Helton get a lot of criticism about playing at Coors and how their numbers are inflated…but those guys still had to put the bat on the ball…oh and they well under 100K’s per season…unheard of today
Look at his splits, he was a Coors Field creation and nothing more.
That is completely false. Why is it that only Rockies hitters have to deal with the silly idea that splits matter? For his career, Aaron Judge has an OPS 300 points higher at Yankee Stadium than on the road. Much bigger than CarGo’s 200 points higher for his much longer career. In 2019, Christian Yelich has an OPS 800 points higher at home than on the road. In Joey Gallo’s breakout 2019, his OPS is 150 higher at home vs on the road. I am not pointing these guys out to demean them. Just to show that most players hit better at their home park versus their road parks.
In fact, Coors is the best hitter’s park in the league. EVERY SINGLE PLAYER in the league would hit better there than on the road. If they didn’t, park factors would be meaningless. What it doesn’t mean is that Rockies hitters can’t hit elsewhere.
Carlos Gonzalez in his prime would have been a superstar anywhere in the league. His swing was the prettiest I have ever seen in my years of watching baseball.
Some good points but there are some issues. That OPS of 800 points more on the road is a small sample from this season only. Last season, his first full playing at Miller Park he had a 1.061 OPS at home, and a .944 on the road, Judge is not a good example since his career has been limited to 163 games at home and 158 on the road. There is the potential for those numbers to change significantly, Comparing them to CarGo’s much longer career is problematic. Same can be said about Gallo’s 2019
It is true almost every player hits better at home, even guys playing in pitcher’s parks. But since you bring up Park Factors look at Cargo’s. His best season since he had a 111 OPS+ in 2016 was his 98 last season. He’s averaged an 88 OPS+ since 2017.
Not sure about the “superstar anywhere”. He was a very dangerous hitter 2010 through 2014, an above average hitter 2015 through 2017, and a below average hitter since then, his age 31, 32, and 33 seasons.
Mets should grab him
Brewers have enough outfielders but this dude always killed balls in Miller Park. would be nice to get him but not a spot for him since Gamel is a stud as a 4th outfielder.
He plays so well at Coors field and is popular with the fans. Rockies should take him back as a bench bat.
We love Cargo in Colorado, but the fact is the Rockies have no place to put him now. They have young players who can do more than he can at this point in his career. Loved to watch him play the field as much as I did watching him hit in his good years, though.
Agreed. Please keep him away from the Rockies and let them move on with Tapia…
That 45-day clause saving teams money against the tax.
??? He’s on a very low contract on a team with a low payroll?
Guy is done but with Nimmo and Conforto injured I’d expect the Mets to sign him
Not sure they would. They just DFA’d Broxton to give the other CarGo a shot and they have Blanco and Rajai Davis in Syracuse. Also, they have McNeil, JD Davis, and Dom Smith who can play OF and need ABs.
He could be a lefty power bat off of the Yankees bench if there is room
Scratch power and the rest might be right, also noticed you left any description of value or valuable out too…
I was thinking about him possibly being (but extremely unlikely) one of those lightning in a bottle situations lol
That’s what Cleveland thought too but even they decided to cut bait.
Why not jays should take him
CarGo + pitcher to Padres for Myers or renfroe and prospect? Padres need a lefty hitting OF and in the market for a pitcher
I had the same thought process immediately when I saw this. Car-Go is a Lefty bat who is familiar with the NL West. Myers could benefit from the change of scenery but the price tag connected to him is the issue we always end back at.
I would dangle a package of:
Cleveland acquires:OF/1B Wil Myers, LHP Eric Lauer, LHP Adrian Morejon, RHP Gerardo Reyes, plus 15 million to pay down Myers’s deal.
Padres acquire: SP Trevor Bauer and OF Carlos Gonzalez.
Cleveland plugs the hole in the rotation left by Bauer, with Eric Lauer. Gerardo Reyes goes straight to CLE’s bullpen. Myers obviously will slide in the 5-6 hole behind Santana and Ramirez, could provide the extra spark that offense needs.
The Padres get Bauer to anchor their young and upcoming rotation. Car-Go gives a much needed LHH bat now that is familiar with the division. With Jankowski still a ways away, Cordero yet to begin a rehab assignment and relying heavily on Hosmer and Greg Garcia as the only LH bats in the lineup. Car-Go to step in and play solid defense while providing left handed coverage until the aforementioned guys start to come back.
Why trade for him when they can claim him off waivers or wait til he’s released and sign him? Indians aren’t trading Bauer with Kluber and Clevinger out.
You sure? Carrasco and Beiber have been more than capable of holding down the fort until Kluber and Clevinger return. Still have Plutko as well, any update on Salazar?
Not to mention the Padres would most likely send a rotation arm in return to slot in CLE’s rotation or pen.
You are right about Car-Go, as far as just waiting to sign him when he is DFA’d however if the Padres and Indians have been talking as much as rumors insist, I could see it happening.
The Padres play game 52 today and are 26-25, why wait?
It makes zero sense to tie CarGo to any trade, let alone this one. It’s not like they’d be tying an albatross contract to Bauers.
Trading for an overpriced ..226 hitter, a relief pitcher that would not make our Triple A affiliate, and a starting pitcher with a high ERA in the pitcher friendly National League, That certainly sounds like it is worth Trevor Bauer. No thank you. Lauer, Myers, and Reyes bring no help to the Indians.
The Padres will have to give up more than spare and overpriced parts to get a pitcher like Bauer.
Must these idiotic Padres fan hijack every topic with their ridiculous trade offers? Stick to playing fantasy baseball and not trying to figure out how a team not interested in taking on payroll and has a depleted pitching staff will trade away a pitcher for a way overpriced bat.
Over-priced or not, Myers can hit. We all know that. He is struggling right now, yes. However he has a track record and is young enough to provide throughout the rest of his deal.
Bauer isn’t accepting an extension and has said multiple times he will take the most expensive one year deals to bet on him self via Free Agency.
So what leg do Indians fans really have to stand on? Keep him and be mediocre until the postseason push? Or deal him now. Morejon would be the Indians number 2 prospect behind Mckenzie if a deal included him. Plus a rotation addition in Lauer, a high leverage guy in Reyes who has the Adam Cimber type deception to him,(yes he would be in CLE’s bullpen). Plus 15 million with the ability to get Myers on track and allow him to play 1B consistently again where he was really good.
Sounds a lot better than holding out and waiting for what if.
Yes Myers is hitting .226. There is no way that any team will give you anything of value when he has 60 Million or more still owed to him, certainly not the small market Cleveland Indians. Also Cleveland DOES NOT need a first baseman. Reyes WOULD NOT make Cleveland’s bullpen as he can not make the Padres bullpen. Cleveland’s bullpen has been good so far.. Lauer is struggling in the NL where he faces pitchers batting. He would struggle more in the American League.
Bleacher Bum, you are trying to take out the garbage and get value back, It is bad enough to propose garbage trades like this. It is worse that you try to argue your point that has no sense to it. Look at the other team’s needs before trotting out more of this junk.
Not necessarily. I’ve looked at Cleveland’s needs and I don’t think Carlos Santana or Jake Bauers is an answer there long term.
Unless you’re seeing something I’m not.
The Padres at one point regarded your boy Bauers so much that they traded him for Myers.
While I’m taking my garbage out, I’ll peek in late September/early October to watch the epic collapse you guys always seem to produce.
Soooooo close Rajai Davis, sooo close.
As the garbage can closes.
Padres can always pivot to Washington who has a better rotation and a clue of where they currently stand and what realistic expectation are.
Cleveland doesn’t have a realistic shot at the playoffs? How does your trade offer help us this season? Bauers is 23 years old and has time to improve and plays a good first base. Carlos Santana is also controlled for the 2020 season and he is much better than Myers. They also have a first base prospect at triple AAA so we have no need for a first basemen.
There is no way that Cleveland would take on Wil Myers contract. None. The Padres have been trying to trade him and no one will do it because of that high contract.
Go ahead and offer your trash to Washington. They will also quickly hang up the phone on you.
Washington actually has money and understands leverage.
You guys have none with Bauer.
You think the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, are going to throw prospects at the Indians to pry away a guy who is not interested in an extension and who is going to take its highest offer in Free-Agency?
Keep dreaming
You think San Diego is the only team that will make a trade offer for Bauer. Boy are you narrow minded and looking through Padre glasses.
Keep dreaming yourself.
If Cleveland doesn’t make a move, they won’t make the playoffs. I can guarantee it. Put your money where your mouth is if you feel like your squad is so strong.
I will bet you $100 dollars right now that Cleveland doesn’t make the playoffs. I’ll book mark this thread and set an alarm for the last day of the season if you are so confident..
I am not saying that the Indians may have to make a move. They may closer to the deadline. What I am saying is that your suggested move is not one that the Indians would be wise to make.. A good trade should meet the needs of both teams. Your trade meets the needs of the Padres, but not the Indians.
I am also saying that there will be other teams that will offer better packages to the Indians if they choose to trade Bauer this season than the one you suggested. The Yankees come to mind with injuries to Sabathia and Severino. Add to that that Paxton is always an injury waiting to happen.
The Padres seem to want the Indians pitching, but they have yet to make an offer that the Indians were satisfied with. Your offer like Preller’s offers to the Indians are and have been rejected.
Talented, CarGo is just having a down time right now like we all do sometimes… We all deserve 2nd chances…
Told a friend yesterday that this would happen. This was before Perez got hurt.
It’s obvious why nobody else picked him up. Just another Francona reclamation project that didn’t pay off, while costing a younger guy playing time.
Shopping at the scratch and dent will do that to you, sometimes you take that item home and polish it up and it’s a beauty, then other times it’s a dud. They’re on a string of duds right now.
Someday there will be an actual salary cap like every other sport has and this process will change.
A salary cap won’t deter owners from privileging profits over on field performance..
Cue all them fans and agents that thought he should have got a major league contract
Think Cleveland should trade for Thames for wild card propect
Why does Cleveland need another player like Thames that can’t hit?
Thinking Ender Inciarte, Adam Duvall and Shane Carle for Nick Wittgren, Sam Hentges, Lenny Torres and Luis Oviedo
I’ve seen a lot of bad trade proposals on here…but this is quite possibly the worst one.
Inciarte is a gifted defender but doesn’t provide much of anything with the bat, and the Indians already have guys like that. Duvall is 30 years old and so bad that he’s back in the minors. Shane Carle was decent last year but has otherwise been hammered in the majors, and with a team whose bullpen is as leaky as Atlanta’s, that he’s still in the minors says a lot.
To get that, the Indians would give up their second best reliever (Wittgren has been absolutely lights out this year), and three of their best pitching prospects.
I can’t possibly emphasize enough how bad of a trade this would be for the Indians; this is a perfect example of people just sending their garbage away and expecting value back.
When can we designate Jose Ramirez and Carl Willis for assignment?
This could be the end of the road for Carlos Gonzalez… at 33, he’s a defensive liability and while his bat was slightly productive last season, he has appeared outmatched this season. 117 PA’s is a decent enough sample size that they gave him a fair chance to prove himself. He hasn’t been an valuable regular since 2016. All considering, a solid career, and $83m in earnings… good for him and his family. Why toil at this point, always be someone’s second or even third choice and the first one to be cut when someone better comes back from injury… he should hang ’em up.
Regardless of what WAR said, he was a valuable regular in 2018 for the Rockies. I watched every single game and I know there were at least 5 games they don’t win without him.
Inexcusable for the Cleveland FO not to resign Brantley. It may have cost us the playoffs.
Agree 100% – they exercise his option when he’s been hurt. Comes back and has a great year and they don’t even give him an offer. Front office has no one to blame but themselves for this dumpster fire they are putting on the field.
$10mil to almost $19mil is just a slight difference. Had he been given the QO and got hurt (like he’s frequently) the same people wouldn’t been saying how the front office blew it.
Not trading a starting pitcher for some farm starting pitchers and an outfielder may have cost them the future
Yeah because they proven to have so much starting depth they don’t need it all…SMH
How do we even know that Brantley would have taken the same deal he got with the Astros to stay in Cleveland? I’m sure he could have gotten more money elsewhere, but I assume he chose the best opportunity to win instead.
Why do I feel like he will be signed by the white Sox
same thoughts. it would help if alonso was gone and see if eloy can take reps at 1B.
You can’t get rid of Alonso he’s the first step in getting Machado to come on board…
Padres got plenty of outfielders to trade
Just saying
For the first time ever, I say the Dodgers are not interested.
Now sitting 10 games back of MIN, Tribe better start figuring out who they’re gonna sell in July. We know they’re not gonna trade for the OF they need, and Jose Ramirez has been lost at the plate since the 2nd half of last season. The only untouchables I can see here are Clevinger, Lindor, Kluber (only because he’s injured and didn’t show anything beforehand), and Cimber. They really should trade Ramirez before his performance scrapes bottom for another half season. It’s clearly time to rebuild in CLE.
Buy low and sell high, they won’t move Ramirez. BTW, for as horrible as they’ve been lately they’re still .500 and in the WC hint, so no sell off until they reevaluate after injured players come back.
I sort of agree with you except I think if Kluber comes back and does anything resembling last year, he and Bauer could be gone. Bieber, Clevinger and Carasco not a bad top of the rotation but all pitching and no hitting is not going to cut it.
Lefty Bat off the bench for philly?
The really nice story would be: With Charlie Blackmon on IL, Rockies could sign outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (“CarGo”) to a 7 day contract to back up Dahl, Tapia and Desmond. When Blackmon is back, CarGo could retire a Rockie.
The sad story would be: Giants or Mets sign CarGo to actually play. Imagine the Mets having an outfielder with two CarGos, Carlos Gonzalez and Carlos Gomez (“CarGo-lite”).
Or the really sad story would be that the Phillies sign CarGo to team up with Kingery replacing Odubel who is on administrative leave for reasons MlbTradeRumors does not let us comment upon.
Could be a perfect fit for Cleveland …….oh wait……