Juan Gone on the way back?

[Special_K19]

The Indians main page is reporting the Tribe is close to signing the former Indian to a minor league with plenty of incentives. Another little risk high reward Shapiro is becoming very adept at making. Ronnie Belliard was great last year and Brian Anderson the year before that. Hopefully Juan will fall in line after those two and approach his magnificent 2001 season he had in C-Town.

[Baseball Guru]

Ughhh:barf:

Cant stand this guy:no:

[Special_K19]

He was great in 2001, the only season I saw him for an extended time. There really is no down side to this deal, at worst, Gonzo does nothing or is injured and the Tribe pays minimally, it's not like the are depending on him for the offense. At best, he approaches his 90's form and makes a potent offense even better.

[Baseball Guru]

I know... Good from a Tribe standpoint.. I just dont like him;)

[Special_K19]

Yeah I know, I was just throwing it out there for the sake of throwing it out there.

[Pizza The Hutt!]

IF they can sign him really cheapy (less than 1 mil), I say go for it, but the outfield is fine without him. I highly doubt he can replicate his 2001 numbers, anyways.

[Special_K19]

No, I doubt it too, but he would be a legit power source for them and would let Grady Sizemore get one more year of seasoning in Buffalo. But if he isn't signed, I agree, the OF will be fine, especially when Gerut comes back.

Welcome to the site, btw. Like the name. :thumbsup:

[Pizza The Hutt!]

Thanks! I don't think that Sizemore needs any more time in the minors - he played slightly below the league average in his ~50 games; give him a year in the majors and I think he can be, at the very least, an average hitter with very good defense. Starting Gonzalez in lieu of him would take the Indians biggest strength (three very good defensive outfielders) and diminish it - Gonzalez would be a bad right fielder, Gerut's a pretty good outfielder no matter where he plays although he's probably better suited for right than center, and Cereal would still be a great left fielder. Actually, now that I think about it, signing Gonzalez would lead to no good. What are the odds that a 35 year old power hitter with back problems would play over 100 games for the first time in four years, and hit productively while doing it?

[Special_K19]

Those are some good points and I agree with most of it. But the one thing the Indians lacked last year was a big power hitter in the middle, although Hafner came close. Gonzalez would provide that. The deal he would sign is a minor league deal, so they only way he'd make the roster is if he's healthy and capable of being that power threat. If he isn't he won't make the team, Shapiro isn't stupid and wouldn't hurt the team be forcing Gonzalez on the team.

[BPBlueSox]

yeah, it never hurts to sign a guy like that to a minor league deal. You can get real steals with guys like Gonzalez. and if he sucks, you don't lose out on anything. Can't lose on this one.

[imgreat95]

I actually have been pushing for the Bucs to sign him to a similar deal the entire offseason. Definitely a case where the good outweighs the bad by a lot.

[Special_K19]

Dan and Shawn, that's exactly what I was thinking, he can't really hurt the team, only add to it.

[Baseball Guru]

yeah, it never hurts to sign a guy like that to a minor league deal. You can get real steals with guys like Gonzalez. and if he sucks, you don't lose out on anything. Can't lose on this one.


Absolutely correct.. Hey, if it doesnt pan out then you dont lose much at all....

His last injury free season was with Clevelan in 2001 and he had a great year!!

He's only 35 so he may still have a few more seasons left in him if he can stay injury free...