Carlos

Gonzalez

The move was initially reported back in May but just became official on Sunday as the Mariners finalized their player pool for the upcoming 60-game 2020 season. Gonzalez signed a minor league contract with Seattle in February after batting just .200/.289/.283 with three homers and 10 RBI over 166 plate appearances between the Cubs and Indians in 2019. He is again a free agent.

This is not a surprise, as Gonzalez was a longshot to make the roster despite the Mariners lacking in quality outfield depth. The 34-year-old outfield was signed by Seattle to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, and hit .237 with a .659 OPS in the Cactus League before the COVID-19 shutdown. Gonzalez will be free to link on with another club, but it’s unlikely there will be much interest.

It’s looked like Gonzalez might make the team by default with Mitch Haniger injured and Braden Bishop getting sent down, but he’s never really been in the team’s plan for 2020 and he hasn’t changed minds this spring, according to Divish. The Mariners might be better off scouring the waiver wire for outfielders at the end of the spring.

Hitting out of the cleanup spot in the Mariners’ lineup, Gonzalez got things started with a leadoff single off of Dylan Bundy in the top of the second inning, then rode home on a two-run homer by Jose Marmolejos. With Mitch Haniger sidelined, Gonzalez has a legitimate path to earning a spot on the M’s Opening Day roster. For the spring, he’s hitting .273 (6-for-22) with no homers, two RBI and a 5/3 K/BB ratio.

CarGo would make a $750,000 salary if he cracks the Opening Day roster. There’s a decent chance of that happening with Mitch Haniger (groin) on the mend. The 34-year-old hit just .200/.289/.283 with three homers and 10 RBI over 166 plate appearances between the Cubs and Indians in 2019, so expectations aren’t high at this point.

The question is whether anyone will have interest in bringing the 34-year-old CarGo aboard. He’d almost certainly have to accept a minor league deal after hitting just .200/.289/.283 with three homers and 10 RBI over 166 plate appearances between the Cubs and Indians in 2019.

Gonzalez had the option to report to Iowa, or to hit the market. The market it is. The former fantasy stalwart has struggled this year with just a .200/.289/.283 line with three homers and 10 RBI for the Cubs and Indians. Someone will likely give him a shot, but his days of fantasy relevance have passed.

If he passes through waivers unclaimed the Cubs would like him to report to Triple-A Iowa. The 33-year-old outfielder and former fantasy stud is slashing just .200/.289/.283 with three home runs and 10 RBI this year for the Indians and Cubs. Now that he is no longer playing half his games in Coors Field his days of fantasy relevance are over.

Gonzalez was hopping mad after disagreeing with two called strikes against him by umpire Nik Lentz. It’s possible he’ll receive a fine because of the dismissal, but we rarely see a player suspended for these type of ejections. Albert Almora has replaced Gonzales in the lineup.

It’s just a day of rest. Victor Caratini will start behind the plate and catch Cole Hamels. Also of note, Carlos Gonzalez is in right field while Daniel Descalso is at second base.