Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
According to MLB.com‘s Anthony DiComo, the New York Mets have expressed interest in signing free agent Marwin Gonzalez to help round out their roster.
Gonzalez, 31, has been a utility player throughout his career, playing the last two seasons with the Minnesota Twins.
Once a Rule 5 draft pick, Gonzalez spent the first seven seasons of his big league career with the Houston Astros, winning the now infamous World Series back in 2017. That season was by far the best in Gonzalez’s career, as he hit .303/.377/.530 with 23 home runs, 34 doubles and 90 RBI. All of those marks were career-bests, as was his .907 OPS and 146 OPS+.
Gonzalez spent one more season with the Astros in 2018, before signing a two-year, $21 million deal with the Minnesota Twins in free agency.
Across his two seasons with the Twins, Gonzalez hit .248/.311/.387, with a .698 OPS. Once a shortstop, Gonzalez now gets most of his playing time in the corners, both in the infield and in the outfield. Still, he is a very strong defender wherever he is placed, as he was worth 3 DRS and 4 OAA across four positions played in 2020.
The Mets consolidated some of their infield depth by trading Andres Gimenez and Amed Rosario to acquire Francisco Lindor. While Lindor is an upgrade, the Mets are suddenly thin when it comes to capable infielders.
Adding a switch-hitter like Gonzalez, who can play all over the field, certainly makes some sense as a bench piece for the Mets if the price is right.
