8:54pm: There’s “a good chance this may happen,” according to a recent tweet by Heyman.
7:51pm: Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports tweets that the Mets are in “serious discussions” to sign first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who was recently released following a trade from the Dodgers to the Braves. Jon Heyman of FanRag has since confirmed the rumor.
Gonzalez was shipped to Atlanta in December along with infielder Charlie Culberson and pitchers Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy in a trade that brought Matt Kemp back to Los Angeles, though a candid explanation of the trade would focus more on the salaries of the contracts exchanged than the plans for the players themselves. The true motivator of the trade was luxury tax implications for the Dodgers; the team is now highly likely to remain under that threshold in 2018 and thus reset their escalating penalties. Gonzalez had a full no-trade clause with LA, but waived it on the condition that Atlanta agree to release him (it should also be noted that the Dodgers informed him he’d receive limited at-bats with the club).
While there hasn’t been much chatter about Gonzalez since his release, he’s certainly a reasonable candidate to bounce back. His 2017 campaign was largely characterized by injuries and an unimpressive .242/.287/.355 batting line. But prior to that, he’d slugged at least .435 for ten consecutive MLB seasons. In fact, he owns an impressive .488 slugging and .361 wOBA across his 14-year major league career. It makes perfect sense that a team could want to take a chance on him for the league minimum of $545K.
There’s at least a chance that the 35-year-old Gonzalez is no longer viable as a full-time player, but even if that’s the case, he could still prove incredibly useful in a part-time role. A quick look at his career platoon splits reveals a 138 lifetime wRC+ against right-handed pitching to go with a .297/.371./.519 slash line. Shielding him against left-handed pitchers could help him stay fresh and limit his injury risk as well.
That would make him a perfect fit for a Mets team who have been reportedly looking for a part-time first baseman as a contingency plan in case Dominic Smith is deemed unready to take over the position on a full-time basis. GM Sandy Alderson has made sure to note that the team is high on Smith, and that he “wouldn’t expect us to do something that totally eliminates Dominic as a possibility.” Signing Gonzalez would fall right in line with the Mets’ plans, as he’s an inexpensive, short-term commitment.
Tristin
Lol what a joke. Mets suck, and this adds fuel to the fire.
wrigleywannabe
How does this make them worse?
bastros88
believe me, this does. This is the last kind of player they should he looking at, even if it’s for a cheap deal
One Fan
I do not believe you. Enlighten me. How does his make the Mets worse?
pt57
It will be for the ML minimum. There’s absolutely no risk for signing him.
metsfan31
The Mets are really looking at the bottom of the barrel, they couldn’t even sign Adam Lind. Life long Mets fan but management and ownership have been treating us fans
HeyBroItsBrad
Giving up on Dom Smith this early is the most Mets thing ever.
Rocket32
Lol they aren’t giving up on Dom Smith. Gonzalez will come cheap and won’t block Dom Smith. He can also mentor Smith.
HeyBroItsBrad
I hope your right. I’m not a Mets fan, but taking AB’s away from Smith seems counter productive to me.
Bill
Maybe they send Smith back to AAA for some more seasoning. And if Gonzalez doesn’t work out, he comes back.
wrigleywannabe
Nope, your comment is.
One Fan
Jesus Christ. This does not mean they gave up on Smith. Get a clue
Sid Bream
What has “Jesus Christ” got to do with this? “Get a clue”, indeed.
lapmando
Why?….please, can we have a plan here????
Joe Kerr
Well to be fair, they have a plan. It’s clearly just not a good one.
VampWeekAtBern
Living up to your name, I see …
Thronson5
Curious if this guy can stay healthy. I still think he can hit, doesn’t have the same power but always has been a good contact hitter who drives in runs and I still think he has it if he can stay healthy. The neck and back have been bothering him for years but last year it got the best of him.
slider32
He didn’t do well in the cold weather in Boston, not sure if the Mets are the right place for him. He seems to have some personality quirk, in Boston and LA, he didn;t even show up for the playoffs. What’s with that
Kenleyfornia74
Didn’t show up for the playoffs? He hit a home run in every playoff series as a Dodger and had some huge hits. Not saying he is still anything but to say he didn’t show up in october is wrong
justin-turner overdrive
He did not attend the World Series that his team played in.
Cam
Yes he did. He was in Italy for the CS and DS – both approved by Management, but was in attendance for the WS.
One Fan
He attended the world series. You have no idea what you are talking about
Edgar Gomez
He didnt do well in Boston? What.. Adrian hit over .300 with 210 hits 27 homers and 110 rbi in his first year there. Even his second year with Boston before he got traded his was doing good he just wasnt hitting homers.
sampsonite168
He’s definitely the kind of player the Mets like. By which I mean he only costs the league minimum.
amazing122
the mets have two left-handed hitters in Bruce and Smith and Flores to play first. we need a third baseman
padam
Flores played third more than first. Bruce will most likely stay exclusively in the outfield if they sign Gonzalez.
bleacherbum
Padres could flip Headley plus cash to the Mets and he could play 3B for them. Could send some more upper minors OF help to SD, maybe Nimmo? Maybe one of Gsellman, Lugo, Wheeler or Pill.
driftcat28 2
Lol Mets doing Met things
holycowdude
Why not? Absolutely nothing to lose with this signing and he’ll be a nice mentor to Dom Smith as he figures it out. Say what you want, but this is a no-brainer since A-Gon will come super cheap.
hawaiiphil
It’s just a bad move. If the only piece they needed was a vet presence to take a few at bats then I like it but they need so much more and this solves almost nothing
wrigleywannabe
it doesn’t hurt, either
soggycereal
it does if it takes Abs away from DSmith
gwithers
So many other holes to fill on this team and we’re gonna spend money on him….
fox471 Dave
Not really spending money. League minimum I believe. Would be a good signing for a mentor for 1st Base rookie.
Joe Kerr
They could hire him as a hitting or fielding instructor for less and not take up a roster spot.
kbarr888
He’ll only cost the League Minimum………and he’ll be a great leader/teammate.
Worth a shot…….
thetruth 2
On a team planning to contend? Why not get Logan Morrison? People were joking that this would happen and it is.
rrieders
He’d be the cheapest player on the team…
cyclone24
They want to give Smith more at bats in minors and want him to lose some more weight . I would love A-Gon at minimum wage . Change of scenery and u might strike lightning in a bottle like we did with Loney
Rocket32
Great low cost move.
FBA17
Good luck New York he is a tool bag.
wrigleywannabe
tool bag?
Joe Kerr
Did he just combine tool and douche bag?
bastros88
this is unprecedented!!!
DigitalMoniker
That alone motivated me to register! Brilliant!
WhiteSox4ever
You seem to be a douche bag, your comments
FBA17
Yes..too bag (Sarcasm by Carrabis)
Jared Carrabis
Verified account
@Jared_Carrabis
39m39 minutes ago
More Jared Carrabis Retweeted Bob Nightengale
You’re gonna love this guy, @KFCBarstool. Never makes excuses. Never whines about anything. Very likable.
southi
If the Mets can sign Adrian Gonzalez to an incentive laden deal I can’t see it being nothing but a positive for the beleaguered organization.
mostlikelyrob
No incentive deal needed as he can be had for the league minimum $545,000.
southi
You are correct, I totally forgot about the salary that Atlanta is paying him.
b-rar
Shoot, may as well put the championship trophy on the 7 train right now.
justin-turner overdrive
So stupid, Smith should start 150+ games in 2018 for the Mets. He needs to be THE guy at 1B. LOLMets forever
aff10
I tend to agree, not sure why they’re doing these half-measures. If they’re not spending to upgrade, then, at the very least, they shouldn’t be blocking one of their most promising young players. Jay Bruce and Adrian Gonzalez is such a weird off-season for them
dematteo1982
Smith isn’t quite ready yet…a full season at AAA should help him and it will also help with his confidence
munlou
Worth a shot nothing to lose if he has anything left it ‘s great if not lost nothing
mike156
A Major League mInimum player who could possibly still have a faint pulse? Right up the Met’s alley.
padam
I like the move. Good backup if Smith can’t cut it, and a left-handed Bay of the bench for pinch hitting. League minimum, I’d say it’s a nice addition.
padam
Bat*.
outinleftfield
Is this like the 7 year $147 million offer he said the Royals made to Hosmer?
outinleftfield
Reading the comments and it hit me that only 1 or 2 actually read the article.
“a perfect fit for a Mets team who have been reportedly looking for a part-time first baseman as a contingency plan in case Dominic Smith is deemed unready to take over the position on a full-time basis.”
How can you miss signing a veteran like Gonzalez to a MLB minimum contract to back up Smith?
aff10
They’re both left-handed, which makes for an odd roster fit, and if they wanted a pure bench bat, there were numerous better players available. Some of the reaction here is overstated (he’s on a minimum salary and can be cut if he sucks), but I just don’t see the roster fit personally
SlPkNtJP
Can’t wait for the majors to step in and force the Mets to bring in a second buyer. You can’t be a big market team and not spend money. Look at what happen to the Dodgers in the 90s. After the Madoff scheme it seems the Wilpons are reluctant to trust anyone with their money …. but throw tantrums when the Yankees make a big splash. PATHETIC!!!
SlPkNtJP
They aren’t being smart they are being cheap don’t be fooled. The Mets run the organization like the Good Will store. Try to make a profit out of nothing. Give me a break.
bucketbrew35
People are being really hard on Gonzo. Last year was his first ever on the DL. His output has been the model of consistency throughout his career. He got displaced by Cody Bellinger not some random scrub. I think he will make a lot of people eat crow this year. Even at his age 36 season.
nross56
Mets fans are great. The simple amount of overreaction to a minor move is wild. AGone will cost very, very little and provide insurance for a prospect that slashed .192/.262/.395 through 49 games last year.
If Smith wins the job in spring, Gonzalez becomes a bench bat or gets DFA’d with basically no net negative effect to the Mets. The move is fine. Certainly not worth getting upset or worried about.