Five-time All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t played in the majors since 2018, but his professional career isn’t over yet. Gonzalez has signed with the expansion Guadalajara Mariachis of the Mexican League, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times relays. The soon-to-be 39-year-old did so in order to tune up for this summer’s Tokyo Olympic Games, in which he’s hoping to play for Mexico. The team has already qualified for the tournament.
As Shaikin notes, Gonzalez previously represented Mexico in youth ball, the Caribbean World Series and the World Baseball Classic. Gonzalez said adding the Olympics to that trio would be “like the grand slam of representing Mexico. That is the only reason I have not retired yet.”
Gonzalez struggled with the Dodgers in 2017 and then the Mets the next season, combining for a .240/.292/.363 line with nine home runs in 439 plate appearances. Despite those woes, Gonzalez said he has received and rejected minor league offers from MLB teams since the Mets parted with him in June 2018. The California resident hasn’t gotten interest from West Coast teams and would prefer to spend time there with his family instead of going to Florida for spring training, per Shaikin.
In all likelihood, we have seen the last of Gonzalez in the majors, but there’s no denying he was one of the game’s most imposing sluggers for a long stretch. Also a former Ranger, Padre and Red Sox, Gonzalez batted .287/.358/.485 with 317 home runs – including 30 or more in four seasons – from 2004-18.
Blast from the past. Forgot about this guy.
Love to see him have a swan song with the Padres back up Hosmer at first. Yeah a pipe dream but an awesome way to see him retire. One of my all time favorite Padres.
I am a Padre fan and I think that would be a really bad idea. Carrying two guys who can only play 1b is really hard on a roster, especially with no DH. However, I must admit it is easier now with 26 man rosters. It might have been cool had SD picked him up in September 2018 when the team was having a terrible season.
Evident last year with Hosmer and Moreland. Hard to justify especially when you have Cronenworth who played exceptional there.
Huge Padres fan here and would NEVER like to do anymore “swan songs” on our team.
Mike Piazza (yea it was fun to watch, but not worth it), Greg Maddux ( was serviceable but 10 mil for 40 year old?!) We have had Vinny Castilla, Miguel Tejada, Jim Edmonds, David Wells list goes on and on. Stop taking popular flyers and waste roster space.
I think that a “swan song” really means a sentimental comeback. Adrian Gonzalez means something to the Padres, so they might bring him back for old time’s sake. Like Seattle brining back Griffey and Ichiro. The other guys you mentioned mean little to SD, they were just brought here at the end of their careers. Mike Piazza was good in his lone season in San Diego.
Understood, but look how the swan song worked out for the Mariners….
We are competitive now and need to start acting like it. Yankees, Dodgers and Red Sox don’t do swan songs. And just to be annoying- swan song means a person’s final public or professional performance before retirement, which is why I listed those used to be “A” listers in my previous post. But I do understand what you mean.
I’m not advocating signing Gonzalez now. However some of the previous signings you mentioned were great pick ups. Maddox and Piazza were fantastic signings. Even Wells had 12 wins with a 3.73 ERA while being paid $1.25M. That’s fantastic. However, the team then was completely different than it is now. We are a loaded team with a vast minor league system. There is no need to take a flyer on someone when as stacked and capable of calling someone up as the team is.
Paying Maddux $10M netted 14 wins, 198 innings and a 3.4 WAR. Not a bad return for the price. Piazza’s year in San Diego was .283/.342/.501. That is an excellent return on $1.25M.
Right about Maddux. And he won the only pitcher Gold Glove awards in SD history. The second one was shared with LA as he was traded there toward the end of the season.
Chase Headley also comes to mind
But that’s the padres way lol
The Padres are getting their acts together.
A mariachi band? Well, it’s about time…
careful what u ask for.. The 39yo AGone might out produce Hosmer.
I encountered the Mexican League. When I wouldn’t buy plastic parrots on the way back from Tijuana they threw batteries at me.
And what was in those ounce baggies you brought back, parrot poop?
Could have made nice with them by buying border Chickletts. That was the main legal commodity 20-30 years ago anyway while in that car line.
The kids selling chicle are shaken down by older kids and cartel. The money those kids make is minimal and followed with a beating.
Tijuana..Interesting place and sure changed over the course of like 35y when used to go there when stationed at San Diego, then went to the “new” Tijuana in early 2k’s with wife and son.. Cleaned up visitors section, surrounded by same filthy city and vices to stumble upon, tho not every biz any longer being..Upholstry joint with stuffing being horse manure, bar, brothel in that order which many areas of Tijuana were comprised of 40+y ago.. ANYTHING was for sale on the streets…
Today, it’s get on a bus at the border, Then? It was get into a taxi waiting and tell the driver u knew how far the town was and were not going to be cheated..
Yeah.. better off bypassing that dump then and now and heading for Rosarita, which was a little safer and a tad fewer thieves..
Ahh the ol’ Philly Special.
Wow. Good for him.
Gonzalez said adding the Olympics to that trio would be “like the grand slam of representing Mexico. That is the only reason I have not retired yet.” Love that!!! Hope he makes the team!
Yeah, it’s a pretty cool way to cap off a great professional career. I hope he makes the team too!
Gonzalez was a guy who always liked to interact with the fans, he did a lot of community work in SD. If he wants to play in Mexico and have some fun, great. I’m sure the fans will love him.
Fernando Rodney, Bartolo Colon, now A – Gone. How do I watch online?
Watching Rodney close for the Mariners was like a heart attack waiting to happen. I’ve never seen more consistency then Rodney closing every game with the bases-loaded
Best baseball news of the day lol
I’m a huge fan of “retired” MLB players still playing either internationally or independent league. I’d 100% pay to see those guys play on a local small scale size.
You recall senior league in the 90s. It only lasted a few years made up of retired mlb players. I remember rollie fingers, dave kingman and fergie jenkins
Guadalajara should be required to sign Nick Punto, too. Best of luck to AG.
One guy who’s road stats are much better than home.
Huh.
Dude’s made over $190MM in his career.
Surprised he can’t find a beach – or whatever – to lay around. I’d certainly have no problem kicking back.
there is a nice looking lake near Guadalajara so he doesnt have it too bad.
I mean he’s probably at the beach between games. He’s home now, not a bad spot to be in!
He lives in SD. He has been sitting on the beach every day he’s not playing
I was elated when the sox got him for rizzo, oh how that back fired.
He’s not doing it for the money and a comeback as he made over $190M during his career. Have no idea what the “depth” options at 1B are for Mexico for the upcoming Olympics. As great as Gonzalez was, he’s been gone for a few years and hasn’t been good since 2016. Be a nice story though if he made the team.
I’m a yankee fan and regardless of his uniform, I always loved watching that swing
Here today, Gonzo tomorrow.
Some of us remember what he did in his very last AB as a Dodger.
Le deseo lo mejor. Me encantaría ver a A-Gon en los juegos olímpicos.
Hell of a fielding first baseman!
He and Todd Helton were the best fielding 1B of their era.
Ahem.. Bagwell
Gonzo had 74 DRS(defensive runs saved). He is 3rd ALL TIME for 1B
Bagwell had 12 DRS. Twelve. Gonzo had 5 seasons with at least +12 DRS
Helton had 33, BTW
UZR, Gonzo is 2nd all time with 39.4. Bagwell had a 12.1 UZR. Cmon now
Btw, Texieria was the best fielding 1B of all time. He had 92 DRS. And the other numbers line up. He wins title of best defensive 1B pretty easily
When assessing talent and ability behind a computer using certain information, yes.
Hey if he is playing for purely fun then more power to him.
Last time I saw him with the Mets in 2018 his swing was like an old rusty gate. He was done.
Gonzales could join Kazmir in the old giants lineup.
I remember everyone in Boston being so excited when Gonzalez was traded to the Red Sox (at the cost of Anthony Rizzo which could be another Jeff Bagwell what if? Type deal). Signed a big extension and realized he hated playing on the east coast…
No, he just got to know Boston fans.
Best fans in earth, dodger n yankee fans are the worst
If nastiness is counted as a virtue, I guess you’re right.
Have a special spot in my heart for Gonzo. He was the start of the Dodgers becoming relevant, even tho they really didn’t become ultra elite until he left. Huge fan favorite. Huge family guy. Just a nice guy. Wish him well
I was told that Arte Moreno had to be restrained, was about to sign him for 10/250
Love Adrian Gonzalez! Sweet opposite field power… A great ball player in his prime
Might as well keep playing if someone lets him. He’s got nothing to lose. He is set for life and this way he doesn’t have to take out the trash, mow the lawn, or listen to his kids.
The dude is from SD.