Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez has been on the trade market for the better part of two years, and has reportedly expressed interest in a trade with the deadline looming. Here’s a look at where he could land.
After a dismal 2014 campaign in which he was plagued by injuries, Carlos Gonzalez has come storming back the past two seasons to reestablish himself as a premier outfielder in the National League.
Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported that Gonzalez has expressed interest in a trade to the Rockies front office, so a trade may be on the horizon as he’s in the midst of an impressive season.
This season, Gonzalez is slashing .319/.368/.556 with 18 homers and 51 RBI. If he keeps up his current pace, he’ll likely match his dominant 2010 season when he hit 36 home runs. Although his stats decline away from Coors Field – he’s hitting .274 with just five homers away from Colorado – he still has plus batting tools.
While he and Nolan Arenado make up a powerful duo in the middle of the Rockies lineup, the time to trade Gonzalez may never be better. It’s no secret that there’s plenty of teams around the league in need of a star outfielder – and CarGo fits the bill.
With just one year and just over $20 million left on his deal, Gonzalez doesn’t represent a significant investment, which is perfect for teams looking to make a run this season without sacrificing prospects for a mid-season rental.
A trade to the American League to a team like the surging Cleveland Indians seems to make the most sense, but a variety of teams with better farm systems could entice the Rockies into giving up the 30-year-old.
Here’s a look at three teams that could make a run at Gonzalez as the trade deadline draws ever closer.
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