Article: BREAKING: Twins to Sign Versatile Marwin Gonzalez

[Nick Nelson]

The new Twins front office is making a name for itself with late-offseason (er, early spring training) free agency splashes. This time around it's Marwin Gonzalez, the defensively flexible veteran who has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $21 million contract.Gonzalez, who turns 30 next month, has spent all seven of his big-league seasons with the Houston Astros, winning a World Series in 2017. He's mostly been a solid, above-average hitter throughout his career, and had his best season in 2017 with a .907 OPS and 23 homers, but is best known for his ability to play all over the field.

 

Gonzalez has logged at least 90 career starts at: 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF.

 

He played all five of those positions in Houston last year, and while he spent the least time at third base (only two starts), his ability to handle the hot corner might’ve been a key reason Minnesota pulled the trigger.

 

Miguel Sano is coming off a disaster season, with major question marks swirling around his surgically repaired leg. Now, he’s limping into camp with a heel laceration. The depth behind was basically Ehire Adrianza, with little help in the high minors. So locking up Gonzalez for two years is a huge help in that regard.

 

The beauty of his versatility is that if Sano does rebound and return to form, as we’re all hoping, Gonzalez can still be plenty useful to the Twins. They are bound need help throughout the season at multiple positions he can play.

 

Even if everyone’s healthy, Gonzalez will hardly be treated as a backup utilityman type. The Twins envision him getting 500 plate appearances while playing everywhere, keeping the starters fresh and helping Rocco Baldelli build optimal lineups with his platoon-neutral switch-hitting splits.

 

Gonzalez is a veteran with postseason experience (he won a World Series with the Astros in 2017) and a great clubhouse reputation. Like most moves we’ve seen from the Falvine Regime, it’s tough to find much downside in this one.

 

Cruise through the comments below to see what our community is saying about the move.

 

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[Post-Concussive Blues]

Seems like a good deal—I don’t think two year contracts can ever be bad for a team. Who gets bumped from the 40 man?

 

This should balance our line up a bit too.

[Doubles]

Love it!  Great insurance policy for Sano, & then some!

 

Only thing I don't like about this is it may cost La Tortuga a spot on the 25-man...

[KGB]

With Sano's injury history, it's nice to have a backup plan. 

[SF Twins Fan]

Awesome! I think we can all agree the offense should be solid this season. The question is who does he replace - Adrianza or Cave on the 25 man roster? 

[baumannmd]

100% in to this move. Especially at only 2yrs @ $21M. As a switch hitter who can play all over the field, they'll be able to find at-bats for him without disrupting the 25-man roster.

 

My only concern is that this is the risk of MarGo being unhappy with his contract and how long it took to join a club, but I'm hoping that Baldelli, Cruz, and the other personalities on this team can get him feeling welcome and valued.

 

Twins are sneakily putting themselves in a position to win the division. Especially if Cleveland has injury issues. They just need a little more pitching.

 

As a side note, I'm also loving that Chicago missed on Machado and now missed out on their likely Plan B. Go after the Indians while stepping on the White Sox throat.

[jkcarew]

Me likey. And no, I don't see it as an 'insurance policy' regarding any one player. It's an insurance policy against several players' performance or injury issues. And if you don't need the insurance (we can always hope)...he's a guy that's good enough offensively to give 400+ PA just based on rest and match-ups.

[Dman]

I hate to say it but I am a little ho hum about this signing.  Don't get me wrong Marwin is a solid and versatile player but he was not the droid I was looking for.  Really wanted to see the team solidify the pitching staff but I guess they are happy with what they have. 

 

Does this mean that Sano is no longer the starting third baseman?  That seems to be the only way this makes sense to me.  Things suddenly feel a little crowded in the infield.  Polanco, Schoop, Le Tortuga, Marwin are all good with the bat and can play their positions but currently someone needs to move.

 

I guess we are waiting for injuries to thin the crowd.  I should be excited heck I wanted the Twins to get this guy after we lost Escobar but after the Schoop signing and Polanco extension, Sano back in better shape, Wanting to see Le Tortuga play  I am struggling be as happy as should be about this.  This is a good signing.  His verstality covers a lot of area's for us.  Here's hoping this works out well for the team.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

Awesome! I think we can all agree the offense should be solid this season. The question is who does he replace - Adrianza or Cave on the 25 man roster? 

Cron?

[baumannmd]

 

Awesome! I think we can all agree the offense should be solid this season. The question is who does he replace - Adrianza or Cave on the 25 man roster? 

 

I have to think this means the end for Adrianza. Marwin Gonzalez can do everything Ehire can do, but better. While Cave is a serviceable 4th OF, even if he is due for some regression this season.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

Awesome! I think we can all agree the offense should be solid this season. The question is who does he replace - Adrianza or Cave on the 25 man roster? 

Left with a choice of those two I would keep Adrianza. Defense at SS should not be taken for granted.

 

I also hope that Astudillo gets a fair shot and makes the team. I would keep him over one of Cron or Austin or Cave.

 

Rosario

Buxton

Kepler

Schoop

Polanco

Sano

Castro

Garver

Cruz

Gonzalez

Astudillo

Adrianza

Cron or Austin

[sweetmusicviola16]

As someone mentioned in the other thread, what does this mean for Nick Gordon? How does the FO even feel about him at this point? Gordon is a prospect that I still have the highest hopes for.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

I have to think this means the end for Adrianza. Marwin Gonzalez can do everything Ehire can do, but better. While Cave is a serviceable 4th OF, even if he is due for some regression this season.

Except that Adrianza is far better with the glove at SS.

[The Mask of Zoilo]

This makes the Twins better and might be good news for Astudillo. I'm of the thinking that you dont need both Gonzalez and Adrianza. With Astudillo able to play third and catcher and Marwin able to play every infield position, they make a better match together as subs than Gonzalez and Adrianza. Also Garver can back up first base and DH. That's elegant.

[The Mask of Zoilo]

Edit

[scottz]

If Jake Cave still has options, he's the one not on the 25. What's the best place to check options?

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, I have to think Adrianza is gone and Astrudillo will be in AAA now. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

looks like a repeat of last offseason

[ChrisKnutson]

Rocco better find a way to get him consistent ABs.

[Battle ur tail off]

I don't mind the signing. Versatile guy that can hit. He's good insurance for when Sano get hurt walking his dog or going out to get the mail. 

 

I still would rather have had the Twins spend real money on a difference maker, rather than bring in him, the pitcher from Texas, and the Angels pitcher. Use that money on one good guy instead of 3 marginal ones is my line of thinking. 

[jkcarew]

 

Except that Adrianza is far better with the glove at SS.

Gonzales is a huge upgrade as a player available on a daily basis as a bench/swing player who might play one game a week at shortstop. An Adrinanza type (or Gordon) is what you'll use if a long-term injury occurs at shortstop.

[Shaitan]

 

Rocco better find a way to get him consistent ABs.

In the era of the 3-man bench that shouldn't be a concern.

[ScooterDance]

 

looks like a repeat of last offseason

Cruz at 1+1 is better than anybody we signed last year. Marwin at 2 years is not like last year. Fernando to the pen being announced this early is unlike last year. Schoop more intriguing as well.

Not seeing it.

[The Mask of Zoilo]

Rocco better find a way to get him consistent ABs.

 

Hes going to be playing almost every day as a supersub and injury fill in. 500+ plate appearances.

[Brandon]

I think the bench shapes up as:

Marwin Gonzales

Adrianza or Torres (we need a good SS backup)

Garver

Cave, Austin, Astrudillo, Duda

 

from left to right is more likley to stay vs less likely.  (Astrudillo has options so you know he now wont start in April in Minnesota). 

 

Anyway you look at it, this is a really good bench.  a few of these guys could start on some teams.  

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Rocco better find a way to get him consistent ABs.

won't be at DH  

[lukeduke1980]

He's essentially Esco.  Hopefully he's as good in the clubhouse.

[drivlikejehu]

Gonzalez is a solid hitter from both sides of the plate. He will get plenty of ABs to shield other players from unfavorable platoon match-ups. His two best infield positions defensively are 1B and 2B - I think the Twins signed him because of the question marks on the right side of the infield, in addition to the general versatility. 

 

In a given week, I'd expect something like 1 start in LF, 1 start in RF, 1 start at 2B, 1 start at SS, 1-2 starts at 1B.

Edited February 22, 2019 by drivlikejehu

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Rocco better find a way to get him consistent ABs.

Why? Gonzalez's projected WAR per PA is worse than each one of our current starting 9.

 

If a guy gets hurt, Gonzalez is a decent band-aid, but if you're benching any of our starting 9 for him, it seems like a pretty lateral move without much upside.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Cruz at 1+1 is better than anybody we signed last year. Marwin at 2 years is not like last year. Fernando to the pen being announced this early is unlike last year. Schoop more intriguing as well.

Not seeing it.

I'm thinking in terms of signing guys late in the offseason for cheap contracts who had been expecting bigger contracts. That is Marwin Gonzalez to a T.

 

And honest question, where is Gonzalez going to play? This 2/21 seems steep for a bench guy when Astudillo is making near minimum