Mike Gonzalez Rumors: Scott Boras Says Client to Sign Soon

Roy Oswalt isn’t the only significant free agent arm remaining on the market.  Lefty-reliever and former closer Mike Gonzalez is yet unsigned, but according to the veteran’s agent, Scott Boras, that could change in the near future.  Boras told T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com that he expects Gonzalez to sign “in the next 10 days”.  So far this offseason, Gonzalez has been linked to the Red Sox, Reds, Yankees, Cardinals, A’s, While Sox, Indians, Rangers and Angels.

Boras confirmed that Gonzalez is close to being fully recovered from offseason knee surgery.  The left-hander is throwing bullpen sessions for interested teams and is apparently looking to sign on with a club within the next week and a half.

Gonzalez already turned down a pair of minor league contracts that were extended to him this winter by the Angels and Rangers.  At that time Boras indicated that there was plenty of interest in Gonzalez and that the delay in signing had been a result of his client’s desire to find the right team.  Joe Soriano took a look at Gonzalez’s value back in February and explained why the southpaw would be a good fit for most any major league team.

Even after rocky campaigns in 2010-11, Gonzalez has still maintained a career ERA and WHIP of 2.94 and 1.243 over his nine seasons in the majors.  Through most of his career he’s also been exceptional against left-handed hitters.  Though his strikeout rates have reduced in recent years, the 33-year-old still sports a career SO/9 of 10.3 and a BB/9 of 4.1.

The Red Sox could certainly use some help late in games, though that could also be said about other potential contenders such as the Reds and Cardinals.

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