Cleveland Indians finally sign Carlos Gonzalez to strengthen outfield

The Cleveland Indians lost several of their top players to free agency this off-season. While the team kept its stellar pitchers, top position players were traded or entered free agency.

This left the Cleveland Indians outfield without any recognizable names in the outfield. Now, finally, with Opening Day less than two weeks away, the Indians did something to add at least one proven veteran to the team.

They signed outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (aka “CarGo”), who has spent nearly all of his career with the Colorado Rockies, to a minor league contract.

According to several sources, including the MLB, the contract is for one year and gives “CarGo” the option to get out of the contract if he isn’t with the team by April:

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While I’m thrilled to see “CarGo” get a contract, the fact that he was only offered a minor league contract is insulting. He is a three-time All-Star, with his last invitation to the game in 2016. He also has two Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove Awards.

In 2018, he hit .276/.329/.467 with 16 home runs, 32 doubles, and four triples. These stats, even for a 33-year-old veteran, aren’t bad. With the Rockies in 2018, Gonzalez hit the fifth most home runs, had the fourth best slash of qualifying players, and the third most doubles.

He is so much better than a minor league contract as this classic clutch “CarGo” moment shows:

Comparing 2018 Gonzalez to the 2018 Indians outfielders who are returning shows that Gonzalez should certainly be able to play in Cleveland. With the Tigers in 2018, Leonys Martin hit .251/.321/.409 with nine home runs and 15 doubles. Bradley Zimmer hit .226/.281/.330 and Tyler Naquin hit .264/.295/.356. Greg Allen hit .257/.310/.343. And, none of the players coming from the Indians played 100 games. Gonzalez played in 132 games.

In 2018, the Indians had a solid outfield with Michael Brantley, Lonnie Chisenhall, Rajai Davis, and Brandon Guyer. The odds are good that Martin will play center field, Bauers will man left field, and Naquin will play right field – at least until Gonzalez is ready. There is a chance that Gonzalez could platoon with Naquin, but they both are left-handed batters.

Rockies players and fans think highly of Gonzalez. Prior to this signing, Patrick Sanders with The Denver Post interviewed Rockies players about Gonzalez not being signed earlier. Veteran Chris Iannetta said:

“I think it’s terrible. I don’t understand it. Perhaps CarGo’s not a .330 guy with 40 home runs anymore, but he’s still an above-average player. Well above average.”

Even though the Indians have outstanding pitching and a better-than-average infield, the outfield could keep them from dominating the weak AL Central. The Twins have signed a few big bats this off-season, but the Indians have not. If Gonzalez makes the team, AL Central fans will quickly see why the Rockies kept him around for so long. He has a beautiful swing and is an asset in the clubhouse.

This minor league deal is worth $2 million if CarGo is added to the Cleveland Indians by the end of April. This is a far cry from 2016, when he made $17 million and in 2017,  when he made $20 million. In 2018, the Rockies signed him at the last minute for $5 million.