Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is not expected to make the Opening Day roster of the Mariners, according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Following up on that, MLBTR’s Steve Adams tweets that Gonzalez has an April 1 opt-out in his minor league deal with Seattle. He can also request his release on the first of the month each month up through August if not on the MLB roster.
The 34-year-old Gonzalez has produced middling numbers this spring, with a slash of .273/.360/.318 across 25 plate appearances. And though that’s an improvement over the .200/.289/.283 line he put up at the MLB level in 2019, it appears that won’t be enough to get him back into the big leagues. Divish spoke to some scouts who commented on his slow bat speed and struggles with velocity. Divish adds that Gonzalez wasn’t viewed as likely to make the club even at the time he signed his deal, calling it more of a “courtesy” audition for a veteran player.
The Mariners seem to have narrowed their outfield competition down to younger players that they want to get long looks at, with Jake Fraley being the favorite to play regularly in right field, alongside center fielder Mallex Smith and left fielder Kyle Lewis. Divish also notes that the utility/bench duties are likely going to other younger players, such as Tim Lopes and Patrick Wisdom. Dylan Moore and Sam Haggerty were also seemingly getting more consideration than the veteran Gonzalez before befalling to injuries.
Gonzalez, a three-time All-Star, had a terrific run of success with Colorado from from 2009 to 2016, producing a wRC+ above 100 in each of those seasons except for the injury-shortened campaign of 2014. However, he hasn’t been able to get back above the 100 line since.
Gonzalez now seems likely to return to the open market, given the opt-out provisions in his deal and his apparently minimal chances of making the roster in Seattle. He could theoretically decide to stay with the Mariners organization in order to get some playing time down on the farm and further showcase himself for other clubs. But given the organization’s preference to use the 2020 season to look at young talent, Gonzalez may lean toward trying to find a better path back to the show.
Time to retire
It is time to retire. He had a great Career until the past 2 seasons. Some people’s bodies age quicker than others. That and life long injuries take their toll early. CarGo should have retired while he was on top instead playing and tarnishing his elite status as a Major Leaguer. Matt Carpenter is another example of a ballplayer trying to hang on too long. Although Carpenter currently has a new 2-year contract after hitting .217 last season for the Cardinals. Matt has chronic back and throwing shoulder problems. He’ll never be the elite All-Star he was. Go out on top Mat while you can.
Say Uncle, CarGo should have retired on top at age 32? Who would do that, and why?
Shame… I really like CarGo, and I get the youth movement, but he’d do great in a Raul Ibañez veteran clubhouse role.
He would have to produce like Raul though.
What happened to this guy? Amazing up to his age 30 season, then forgets how to hit? It doesn’t add up
Unfortunately it happens. Look at Andruw Jones: Hall of fame trajectory from 3 Homer game in the 1996 World Series at age 19 to being a 5 time All Star, 10 time Gold Glover, more than halfway to 3000 hits and almost 400 HR’s all thru his age 30 season. After that the wheels came off and he was out MLB 5 years later and spent his last 2 seasons in Japan.
Hopefully for the Angels a similar fate does not befall Mike Trout because there are a alot of similarities between Jones and Trout, only Trout is on a franchise killing contract.
Andruw Jones put on a bunch of weight that probably robbed him of the HOF. But nobody made that happen but him. What a shame! Maybe his son Druw Jones will make it to the MLB?
You’re right, and the reason Jones put on that weight was the very reason his career slipped off the rails: he fell in love with the HR. He had all the tools for a HOF career, but once he made the conscious decision that he was, above all, a HR hitter, the downward spiral ensued. Most unfortunate squandering of a rare talent.
Coors plus age didn’t bode well for cargo.
Yeah even playing most of his career in Colorado, it is pretty surprising how quickly he declined.
He had a tumor removed from his hand back in 2014. He never really was the same hitter after that. I don’t know if that surgery as the cause or if it as just coincidental, but it was definitely near that time when his decline began.
Far beyond it is PED and Mile High
what proof do you have that he used PEDs, and why exactly would he have stopped?
Seems like the end of the line for CarGo. Maybe once he’s released he could latch on with the Pirates in a similar role as Melky Cabrera had last year.
Wow just like super shocked
I’d say he’s the pure definition of “lost a step.”
Stick a fork in him, he’s done….
Can’t make the M’s, it’s time to call it.
Pirates?????
Haniger gets 2 weeks extra to get better.