Carlos & Gio Gonzalez Sign Minor League Deals with Indians, Yankees

A couple of Gonzalezs are finally off the free agent market.

Over the weekend, free agent outfielder Carlos Gonzalez signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians while earlier today free agent pitcher Gio Gonzalez agreed to minor league contract with the New York Yankees.

Gonzalez, popularly known as Car-Go, had spent the past 10 seasons with the Colorado Rockies after making his MLB debut with the Oakland A's in 2008. Car-Go won the NL batting title in 2010 and was a three time NL All-Star. As recently as 2016, Car-Go had a 100 RBI campaign with the Rockies. However, Car-Go's production has slipped over the past two seasons. In 132 games with Colorado in 2018, Car-Go batted .276 with 16 HR and 64 RBI. Respectable numbers, but a far cry from the 40 HR he hit in 2015. But the 33-year old Venezuelan born veteran will be a welcome presence in the Indians' clubhouse. If he doesn't make the big league club, he can opt out of his contract before the end of April.

As for the Yankees, Gio Gonzalez answers their prayers with a much needed starting pitcher given that Luis Severino is expected to be out at least until May with rotator cuff troubles not to mention the fact that C.C. Sabathia is suspended the first week of the season. Like Car-Go, Gonzalez began his MLB career with the A's in 2008 and earned an AL All-Star selection with the team in 2011. But the veteran southpaw spent the bulk of his career with the Washington Nationals beginning in 2012 when he won a career high 21 games and finished third in NL Cy Young balloting. His tenure in D.C. ended last August 31st when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers where he became a key figure in surging them to the NL Central crown and within a game of the NL pennant. In 32 combined starts with the Nets and Brew Crew, Gonzalez went 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA. Those numbers were down from his 15-9 campaign in 2017 which along with a 2.96 ERA was good enough to finish sixth in NL Cy Young balloting. How the 33-year old stalwart only merited a minor league deal can only be explained by money. Like Car-Go, Gonzalez can opt out of his deal before the end of April should he not make the big league squad. But I suspect Gonzalez will be wearing Yankee pinstripes through October.