On Thursday, May 30, 2019, the Chicago Cubs signed veteran outfielder Carlos Gonzalez to a minor league deal.
On Thursday, Jon Heyman reported that the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Gonzalez (aka “CarGo”) have agreed to terms in a minor league deal.
Carlos Gonzalez agrees to minors deal with Cubs. Will report to triple a Des Moines tomorrow then likely get spot on Mlb team as lefty bat off bench. Jesse Rogers 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 30, 2019
The 33-year-old was recently released by the Cleveland Indians after batting .210 with just two home runs in 30 games. Gonzalez will be reporting to Triple-A with the expectation to be called up soon.
CarGo is a three-time All-Star, who won three Gold Glove awards and was a two-time Silver Slugger with the Colorado Rockies from 2009 to 2018. He has 233 career home runs.
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This is a risk-free move for the Cubs that bolsters their depth in the outfield and on the bench. Besides having Kris Bryant and David Bote appear in the outfield every now and then, the Cubs do not have much of a backup outfield.
Mark Zagunis has played eight games in the outfield for Chicago but is only hitting .256 through 39 plate appearances. Having a former All-Star that still has a strong arm and decent range will benefit the team in the long run. This move really strengthens their outfield depth.
A team in a division title race could really benefit from having a bat like Gonzalez’s off of the bench later in the season. He will eventually make the Cubs’ 25-man roster as a lefty bench bat. Being a career .285 hitter with postseason experience, he is a great asset to have in a race to the postseason.
The Cubs were smart to jump on Gonzalez when he became available because if he has any productivity left, Chicago will benefit at a low cost.
This is an opportunity for him to revive his career and help the Cubs win the National League Central Division.
The Chicago Cubs are currently 31-23 and one game in front of the Milwaukee Brewers. This will be a tight race until the end of the season, one that Carlos Gonzalez is now a factor in.