Seattle Mariners: Carlos Gonzalez the perfect stop-gap player
The Seattle Mariners sign Carlos Gonzalez becoming the latest team to give the veteran a shot at reliving his glory days.
Carlos Gonzalez has found a new home in the Pacific Northwest, though he may not want to buy a house just yet. The Seattle Mariners signed the former All-Star to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. Gonzalez will compete for a roster spot with a couple of younger players and at age 34 he can still contribute in the clutch.
Gonzalez may just be a temporary part-time replacement for Mitch Haniger. Haniger is on the shelf after undergoing core surgery and is expected to miss all of spring training and the first couple weeks of the season.
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After having spent time last year with both the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs, and not hitting his weight with no power, Gonzalez is not the same player he was when he crushed 40 home runs in 2015 for the Colorado Rockies. He is, however, capable of still producing at a reasonable clip if he is given consistent at-bats.
The Mariners are in the midst of a youth movement and figure to give Kyle Lewis, Jake Fraley, Braden Bishop, and newly acquired Jose Siri a long look before committing to Gonzalez. If Gonzalez can hit during spring training and show the range in the outfield he did when he was winning Gold Gloves roaming Coors Field for the Rockies, he could earn his way into the lineup. He could even spell the light hitting Daniel Vogelbach as the designated hitter as well.
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If Gonzalez earns his keep he’ll remain on the roster when Haniger returns from injury and could prove to be a valuable asset for a limited expense. If he struggles out of the gate, he’ll be looking for a new job instead.