In a move that flew under MLBTR’s radar during the pre-lockout transactions frenzy, the Marlins signed utilityman Erik Gonzalez to a minor league deal in late November. Because the Pirates outrighted him off their 40-man roster during the season, Gonzalez (with over three years of MLB service time) had the option of electing free agency this winter, and will now look for a new opportunity in South Beach.
Incumbent utilityman Jon Berti and newcomer Joey Wendle each already provide Miami with a lot of versatility, though positional flexibility is also Gonzalez’s calling card, as he has made at least one big league start at every position on the diamond except catcher and pitcher. Much of Gonzalez’s experience has come as an infielder, as he has played mostly shortstop and third base over his six seasons with Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
Between his versatility and his particularly solid glovework at the hot corner, Gonzalez has struck around big league rosters despite a lack of offensive production. Gonzalez has only a .245/.276/.345 slash line to show for 853 plate appearances in the majors, and he also hit a modest .269/.311/.392 over his minor league career (3287 PA). Injury problems haven’t helped, as Gonzalez was sidelined for much of the 2019 campaign due to a fractured clavicle, and he also missed a big chunk of time this past season with an oblique strain.
Is being assigned to AAA a lock for most minor league deals?
A poor man’s Jon Berti.
Should be a good replacement player if the CBA isn’t settled.
Most guys like him won’t be a scab player, once you become a scab, you won’t be allowed to join the union, lose out on pension and benefits that he already earned being on MLB rosters for the last 6 years.
Look at Rick Reed and Shane Spencer both were scabs,and couldn’t even be put on tshirts cause they weren’t in the union for being scabs.
Just like last time the union will tell players if you signed a minor league contract, you report to minor league camp and do that spring training.
But I doubt there will be replacement players anyway, no one is going to pay even half what current mlb tickets costs to see that.
Kevin Millar was also a scab.
Yep. Its a different world than it was in 1994. Players have far more money to lose where there likeness is concerned.