02/07/2008 3:22 PM ET

 

Outfielder Gonzalez officially a Marlin

 

Veteran completes physical, will make $2 million in 2008

 

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

 

MIAMI -- Finalized at last.

 

A week after reaching agreement on a contract deal, free agent Luis Gonzalez is now officially a Florida Marlin.

 

The veteran outfielder successfully completed his physical on Thursday, and his signing was formerly announced in the afternoon by the club.

 

To make room on the club's 40-man roster for Gonzalez, right-handed pitcher Marcos Carvajal was designated for assignment.

 

Gonzalez came to terms on a one-year, $2 million contract on Jan. 31. At the time, the only thing holding up the process was the outfielder taking his physical.

 

The 40-year-old, however, was in Arizona this past week. He arrived in South Florida in time to complete his medical work on Thursday.

 

As part of his contract, Gonzalez can earn another $1 million in incentives.

 

The Marlins had been coveting Gonzalez for a while to provide veteran leadership. He also provides an insurance policy for left fielder Josh Willingham. Gonzalez also attracted some interest from the Mariners, Padres, Brewers, Rangers, Rays, Giants and White Sox.

 

Born in Tampa, Gonzalez will be entering his 19th big league season.

 

The left-handed-hitting outfielder broke in with the Astros in 1990. He spent last season with the Dodgers, where he appeared in 139 games, and finished with a .278 batting average with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs.

 

With the Marlins, Gonzalez's role will be as a backup and pinch-hitter.

 

Willingham, a 28-year-old, remains the starting left fielder. However, he was bothered by a herniated disk in his back that caused him to miss the final few weeks of the 2007 season.

 

Willingham is a candidate to bat either cleanup or fifth. A right-handed hitter, he comes off a .265 season where he belted 21 homers and drove in 89 runs.

 

Fully recovered, Willingham has already begun getting ready for the season.

 

Willingham is in South Florida, as he is taking part in the club's caravan tour and FanFest, which is set for Saturday at Dolphin Stadium.

 

Gonzalez has appeared in 2,455 career games. He has 346 home runs, including seven years where he has belted more than 20.

 

In 2001 with Arizona, Gonzalez had a monster season, batting .325 with 57 homers and 142 RBIs. He also delivered the game-winning hit in Game 7 to clinch the World Series for the D-backs.

 

Regarded as one of the classiest players in the league, Gonzalez's leadership will be counted on to help the young Marlins players.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/news/articl...sp&c_id=fla

now officially the only Marlin eligible for AARP

You have to imagine that the Marlins were honest in how much playing time he's going to be receiving.

You figure he'll get around 130-160 at-bats, and from the sound of it, he knew what he was going to be used for. The Marlins obviously valued his "veteran leadership" far more than his bat which is why I still don't understand his motives for signing with us. If he wanted to make a realistic bid at 3,000 hits, he's not going to do it averaging at the most 200 at-bats a year for the next 3 years (considering that's roughly the amount of time he has left in the bigs).

 

Maybe he realized no team is willing to give him 400 at-bats again in a single season so he settled for us. Either way, I like the signing because there is no garuntee about how Willingham will hold up in left and Gonzo gives us some insurance there. Between him and Cody, the outfield is covered nicely if 2 starters were to miss the same game. Though I agree with the fish, in that his value comes with his status as a veteran.

If nothing else, we can probably get something for him at the trade deadline.

If nothing else, we can probably get something for him at the trade deadline.

 

 

 

Nice collage of former Marlins you have in your sig.

 

 

 

Anyway, can someone please explain why exactly we signed Gonzalez? We're not playoff bound, and we traded Cabrera and Willis out of financial consideration (not something I was totally against).

 

I just don't get it. Play and spend for 2009/2010. Why are we spending 2 million large for a pinch hitter?

If nothing else, we can probably get something for him at the trade deadline.

 

 

 

Nice collage of former Marlins you have in your sig.

 

 

 

Anyway, can someone please explain why exactly we signed Gonzalez? We're not playoff bound, and we traded Cabrera and Willis out of financial consideration (not something I was totally against).

 

I just don't get it. Play and spend for 2009/2010. Why are we spending 2 million large for a pinch hitter?

 

Again, this comes back to the real reason for the signing. The Marlins have made it clear what their motive was for signing Gonzalez. We're paying 2 million for a veteran, not a pinch hitter.

If nothing else, we can probably get something for him at the trade deadline.

 

 

 

Nice collage of former Marlins you have in your sig.

 

 

 

Anyway, can someone please explain why exactly we signed Gonzalez? We're not playoff bound, and we traded Cabrera and Willis out of financial consideration (not something I was totally against).

 

I just don't get it. Play and spend for 2009/2010. Why are we spending 2 million large for a pinch hitter?

To better prepare the players who will be around in 2009/2010.

If nothing else, we can probably get something for him at the trade deadline.

 

 

 

Nice collage of former Marlins you have in your sig.

 

 

 

Anyway, can someone please explain why exactly we signed Gonzalez? We're not playoff bound, and we traded Cabrera and Willis out of financial consideration (not something I was totally against).

 

I just don't get it. Play and spend for 2009/2010. Why are we spending 2 million large for a pinch hitter?

 

Beinfest made several comments early in the offseason that he was displeased with the lack of a veteran leader in the lockerroom in 2007 and felt that had a very big impact on our poor play.

 

So now we have Hendrickson for the pitchers and Gonzo for the hitters.

 

(not saying I agree with it, just giving his very likely reasons)

good signing. I still wanted Julio Franco! Go ahead and bash me, I love it, LOL

You figure he'll get around 130-160 at-bats, and from the sound of it, he knew what he was going to be used for. The Marlins obviously valued his "veteran leadership" far more than his bat which is why I still don't understand his motives for signing with us. If he wanted to make a realistic bid at 3,000 hits, he's not going to do it averaging at the most 200 at-bats a year for the next 3 years (considering that's roughly the amount of time he has left in the bigs).

 

Maybe he realized no team is willing to give him 400 at-bats again in a single season so he settled for us. Either way, I like the signing because there is no garuntee about how Willingham will hold up in left and Gonzo gives us some insurance there. Between him and Cody, the outfield is covered nicely if 2 starters were to miss the same game. Though I agree with the fish, in that his value comes with his status as a veteran.

 

Maybe he is preparing himself for a continued career in coaching. Smart guy. Knows the game. Has a marketable name. Wouldn't be a bad move for him.

If nothing else, we can probably get something for him at the trade deadline.

 

 

 

Nice collage of former Marlins you have in your sig.

 

 

 

Anyway, can someone please explain why exactly we signed Gonzalez? We're not playoff bound, and we traded Cabrera and Willis out of financial consideration (not something I was totally against).

 

I just don't get it. Play and spend for 2009/2010. Why are we spending 2 million large for a pinch hitter?

 

Beinfest made several comments early in the offseason that he was displeased with the lack of a veteran leader in the lockerroom in 2007 and felt that had a very big impact on our poor play.

 

So now we have Hendrickson for the pitchers and Gonzo for the hitters.

 

(not saying I agree with it, just giving his very likely reasons)

 

 

 

 

 

Fair enough but......

 

 

If Beinfest brought Hendrickson in to fill the "veteran leader" role then he needs to get his head examined.

First glimpse of Gonzo in teal:

I didn't know he was that bald... lol

I didn't know he was that bald... lol

 

 

He's old! Too many hats during the years.

It's a great move. He'll be the neo Lenny Harris.

I didn't know he was that bald... lol

 

 

He's old! Too many hats during the years.

 

That's a myth. I'm older and have been wearing hats since my USAF years. Every day. My hair line isn't even receding.

 

I wasn't particularly happy with the signing at first because of the way it was rteported of his "troubles" in Dodger Blue, although I liked the veteran idea. I think it was 2003 that basically said I was reading too much into those reports. After reading some recent articles and listening to him at FanFest, I gotta agree. I have now changed my opinion on him and willing to let Day 1 be last Thursday when he officially signed.