CapeFish Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 01/05/2005 4:08 PM ET Rays ink infielder Gonzalez Longtime shortstop will move to third base in 2005 By Paul C. Smith / MLB.com Alex Gonzalez played with the Cubs, Expos and Padres in 2004. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) ST. PETERSBURG -- The Devil Rays signed infielder Alex Gonzalez to a one-year deal on Wednesday with the intention of playing him at third base this season. The signing is pending a physical and terms were not released. Gonzalez, 30, made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays in 1994 and played excellent defense for them for the next seven seasons. Gonzalez was traded to the Cubs on Dec. 10, 2001, and spent two seasons in Chicago, hitting 18 homers in 2002 and 20 homers in 2003. Last season, he hit a combined .225 with the Cubs, Expos and Padres, with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. He began the season with the Cubs, but missed two months with a broken right wrist. Right after he returned, the Cubs traded him to the Expos in a four-way deal that ended with Nomar Garciaparra in Chicago. Gonzalez was then hit on the left wrist while with the Expos. On Sept. 17, he was traded to the Padres. The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Miami has played mostly shortstop throughout his career, but with Julio Lugo set there for the Rays will move to third base. "We like him as a third baseman,'' said Rays general manager Chuck LaMar. "He's had an outstanding career as a shortstop, but we feel at this point in his career he will make a smooth adjustment to third. We also feel that with him coming back to the American League, his offensive production will increase. He will give our team a nice veteran presence.'' LaMar also said he had a number of other potential deals in the works but declined to be specific. The Rays have shown keen interest in several other free agents, including outfielders Danny Bautista and Juan Gonzalez and first baseman Travis Lee. Paul C. Smith is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarlinFan10 Posted January 5, 2005 Share Posted January 5, 2005 He's no longer good enough to start. Bad signing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ERF Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 He's no longer good enough to start. Bad signing. 648515[/snapback] he was never good enough to start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickGold Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 There go the D-Rays again....grabbing up all the best talent in MLB...it's unfair! :plain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Both Alex Gonzalez's in Florida, think of the turmoil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expos Ranchod Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Terrible move for the D-Rays, just awful. Sign mediocrety to block your good young players (Upton). What a joke. For a bit more they could have had much better players in Grudz and Cora, who could have played 2B with Cantu moving to 3rd. What's worse is Gonzalez is mediocre offensively for a SS, flat out terrible for a 3B. Oh, the good news doesn't stop here D-Ray fans, according to rotoworld the Rays may sign Cora or even Miguel Cairo to play 2B and make Cantu the UTIF :plain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Apparently the Devil Rays don't like progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DurableTear Posted January 6, 2005 Share Posted January 6, 2005 Apparently the Devil Rays don't like progress. 649026[/snapback] The curse of LaMar... :banghead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuickGold Posted January 7, 2005 Share Posted January 7, 2005 Apparently the Devil Rays don't like progress. 649026[/snapback] The curse of LaMar... :banghead 649170[/snapback] I blame the owner. If he actually spent some money, they might go somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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