Biggest no-brainer baseball signing. Juan Gonzalez a Red Sox.

FatTony · Mar 19, 2006

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Juan Gonzalez, limited to one at-bat last season, agreed to a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.

The Red Sox hope the 36-year-old, oft-injured outfielder can bounce back and show the form he displayed when he had three 140-RBI seasons.

Gonzalez was expected to join the Red Sox for Tuesday's home game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He has 434 homers, 1,404 RBI and a .295 batting average in 17 major-league seasons.

Boston has few available roster spots but the right-handed hitting Gonzalez could spell lefty-hitting Trot Nixon in right field.

First, Gonzalez must come back from a torn hamstring that ruined his 2005 season. He was injured on June 1 during his only at-bat with Cleveland. The Indians didn't offer him salary arbitration this winter.

Gonzalez spent his first 11 seasons with Texas and hit at least 39 homers six times. He moved to Detroit in 2000 and hit 22 homers with 67 RBI in 115 games.

He joined Cleveland in 2001, the year Manny Ramirez left the Indians for the Red Sox, and batted .325 with 35 homers and 140 RBI.

But in the next three seasons, two with Texas and one with Kansas City, Gonzalez played in just 185 games with 37 homers and 122 RBI.

dmmd98 · Mar 19, 2006

I hear he had to agree verbally to the contact cause his agent was afriad that he may pull a ligament in his wrist and go on the DL if he had signed the contact.

RobFunk · Mar 19, 2006

Sounds like Richie Sexson

Journeyman · Mar 19, 2006

:lolBIG: he could hit 40 or he could have 3 at bats...why not?

Before his rash of injuries he was just as good as Manny Ramirez...very similar RBI machines in their primes.

michael777 · Mar 19, 2006

just in,juan out for 3 months,injured himself while signing his contract

FatTony · Mar 19, 2006

michael777 said:
just in,juan out for 3 months,injured himself while signing his contract

But it's not going to cost much to find out.

If he some how stays healthy, he could give you 30 homers.

JoeFalls · Mar 19, 2006

you can't compare richie sexton to the juan gonzalez situation. hey, if juan gone plays a 120 games, it's huge for the rsox, and a minor league contract is like playing for free nowadays. could never figure why the rsox never signed dave kingman to be their dh. somebody must've worked him out.

Ladeda · Mar 19, 2006

Juan Gone must have needed the money. I wouldn't have come back otherwise if I were him. He was among the greatest sluggers of the 90's yet you almost never hear his name mentioned as a steriod abuser, although he most certainly used them, people have forgetten him to some extent. I vividly remember announcers in the first week of MLB on e year marveling at how much he bulked up over one offseason somtime in the 90's. Didn't help him much, as his best years were before he bulked up too much.
Now if he stays healthy but struggles he will surely be lupmed in with Sosa, Boone, etc whose great careers were due ot cheating. And would have been nothing without steriods.

5teamparlay · Dec 19, 2013

http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/a...g_off_1996_american_league_mvp_award/15346735
Juan Gonzalez auctioning off 1996 American League MVP Award

It’s hard to believe that Juan Gonzalez, who made over $87 million in his 15-year career, is hard up for money. But from the evidence from on the auction site lelands.com, it appears he might be. Gonzalez’s 1996 American League Most Valuable Player Award is up for auction with a current bid of $11,000. Several other Juan Gone awards, including two Silver Slugger Awards and a Player of the Month Awards. lelands.com Gonzalez, a highly suspected PED user, finished his career in 2005 after making one plate appearance for the Indians. He is currently 44 years old. I can’t imagine these trophies will collect much cash. But then again. the coolness of trophies and participation certificates wear off a bit after a while. [via @TonyPaul1984]