Astros: Sign-stealing scandal affecting Marwin Gonzalez’s employment

Astros scandal keeping Marwin Gonzalez among the unsigned?

Former Houston Astros utility man extraordinaire Marwin Gonzalez does not have a job. In fact there are several other baseball players who are in the same predicament. Free agency has moved very slowly this offseason and as we approach February, the list of players looking for work remains long.

While a large number of players remain without a team because of the baseball economy, we wonder if Gonzalez is plagued by the numbers he put up during the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.

Gonzalez broke out in 2017 with a spectacular hitting season. In the year the Astros won the World Series, Gonzalez set career highs in batting average (.303), home runs (23), and RBIs (90). His ability to play anywhere on the diamond made him very serviceable.

After the 2018 season, Gonzalez hit free agency and signed a two-year, $21 million deal with the Minnesota Twins. In his first season, he hit .264 with an OPS of .736, spot on for what his career averages were while he played in Houston.

Prior to the 2020 season, the details emerged of the Astros stealing signs using technology and communicating with a player at the plate by banging on a trash can. Data shows Gonzalez benefited the most from this as far as most pitches correctly decoded.

Whether or not this had any affect on his great season is unclear. All we know is the system set up by the players was used very frequently when Gonzalez was at the plate.

Gonzalez was remorseful for his part in the sign-stealing scandal and went on to hit just .211 with five home runs in 53 games during the 2020 season.

Now, he sits and waits. Waits for a call and an opportunity. One wonders if the radio silence he is receiving is because his one great year was attached to a cheating scandal. There is always a need for a utility infielder. Gonzalez has played over 100 games at five different positions in his career.

He is a switch-hitter with some pop who can play anywhere on the infield and all three outfield positions. Is Gonzalez being judged on his 2017 season in a negative light as opposed to his 2019 season?

The pandemic-shortened campaign was tough on a lot of hitters. Didn’t keep Josh Bell from being sought after by the Washington Nationals. Didn’t keep Kyle Schwarber from signing a $10 million deal. Pitchers Robbie Ray and Drew Smyly earned decent paydays after less than average years last season.

Feels like the only rumors revolving around Gonzalez this year have been those putting the Boston Red Sox as a possible fit. That is, until the Sox signed Enrique Hernandez to a two-year contract. Not sure I have seen Gonzalez connected to any other team in free agency.

As the days go by we continue to wonder if Marwin Gonzalez will find a job again.