Lefty
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After reading this article I have a feeling the Diamondbacks are ready to move on without Gonzo.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0709dbgonzo0709.html
Is Gonzo's greatness fading?
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 8, 2006 12:00 AM
Luis Gonzalez can see the writing on the wall.
Now if he could just grab a can of spray paint and black it all out, he'd sleep a lot more comfortably at night.
But that's not going to happen. The star left fielder for the Diamondbacks knows his time with the franchise is likely nearing its end.
His tenure as the franchise's most visible and popular player has lasted for eight seasons, but eventually, time brings change. And time has come knocking a cold-hearted rap on Gonzalez's front door.
"It's just that the organization, the city, everybody has been so great," he said, staring at the ground and gently shaking his head. "You never want to look at it like the end is here and you've got to go somewhere else.
"But there's the other side of the coin that's saying this could be my last year here. The option isn't mine. The option belongs to the team. They hold that card."
As much as Gonzalez has meant to the Diamondbacks, the business of baseball will ultimately take precedence. Like the game itself, it's all about the numbers - and the bottom line.
The Diamondbacks have the option to pick up Gonzalez's contract for one more season and pay him $10 million. But he is 38 years old. He is batting around .260. Entering Saturday's game, he has hit only six home runs, and just one since April 20.
You do the math.
A delicate issue
The Diamondbacks have, and it doesn't add up. Not when they have a crop of top young outfield prospects such as Scott Hairston, Chris Young and Carlos Quentin ready for duty.
But it remains a delicate issue for the organization. Gonzalez is a special case. He's been a cornerstone of the franchise. He was the hero of the 2001 World Series with his game- and series-winning hit. His work in the community, where he's donated boatloads of money and time, has made him larger than life.
"The Gonzo situation will be addressed in the ordinary course of business," said Diamondbacks General Partner Jeff Moorad, who formerly was Gonzalez's longtime agent and worked up the contract facing the team.
"But to be sure," he added, "it will carry a little extra, special attention because we all value the terrific contributions that he's made to the ballclub and our community over the years."
Thus far, there has been no direct dialogue about the future between the team and Gonzalez or his new Valley-based representatives, Gregg Clifton and Terry Bross.
"It's too early," Gonzalez said. "They don't know what kind of year I'm going to finish with. I could finish with a flurry. I could get hot in July and carry it into August and September and you never know what can happen."
Even if Gonzalez goes on a mighty tear, it may not be enough to keep him in a Diamondbacks uniform. It could, however, help his chances of catching on somewhere else - perhaps with an American League team as a designated hitter, maybe in his hometown with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - but for a contract probably substantially less than $10 million.
Josh Byrnes, the Diamondbacks' first-year general manager, ultimately will make the final call on Gonzalez.
"He's a tremendous player and certainly the biggest name in the history of this franchise with everything he's done," Byrnes said. "I quickly realized that in my first year here, with how many people have bonds with Gonzo, whether they are teammates, employees or fans."
But Gonzalez's feelings for the organization suffered a major strain last month when Ken Kendrick, the club's managing general partner, haphazardly mentioned Gonzalez's name while discussing the topic of steroids in a story that made the front page of The Republic.
Kendrick tried to apologize. Moorad tried to mend the fences. Gonzalez still feels abandoned and betrayed.
"It's hard not to play things over in your head," Gonzalez said, talking about what happens next. "You just kind of go with it. I've played this game for so long, I've seen so many things that you just learn to adapt and try not to let anything shock you."
Trade or platoon?
There is a chance Gonzalez's name may pop up in trade conversations before the July 31 trading deadline, but as a 10-5 player - having played at least 10 years in the majors and at least five with the same team - he has the right to veto any trade offer.
Then again, his declining numbers - and the remaining balance from this season's $11.5 million salary - could minimize his appeal on the trade market. If another team wants him, Gonzalez has said he'll want something in return to waive his no-trade rights - presumably next year's $10 million option being kicked into place.
But that's as unlikely as Gonzalez accepting a platoon role in left field.
"I don't even want to think about that," he said of shared playing time. "Unless a problem arises, I'd like to think that's not going to happen because we're going to be in a playoff run here. And if we're in the middle of the race, that's obviously not going to be the case."
Arizona was five games out of first place in the National League West entering Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies, the second to last game before the All-Star break. Staying in the race has become paramount. Gonzalez's situation will have to wait and be determined later.
"At this point, we're focused on the current season and obviously on the goals of winning this season," Moorad said. "We still believe this ballclub has a chance to win the division."
And yet both sides in this relationship can see an end on the horizon.
Part of the family
As Gonzalez talks about his tenure in the Valley, he mentions the names of other players who moved on after becoming household names in one particular city for several years. They may have left, he says, but their reputations live on where they became stars.
"We've got guys who are going to be like that here," Gonzalez said, singling out the likes of young first baseman Conor Jackson and third baseman Chad Tracy. "Guys like me and (shortstop) Craig Counsell, we're kind of the last Mohicans around here."
Gonzalez has said that retirement is not a consideration at this point. But if he's playing elsewhere next year, he could easily return to the fold at some point. It just probably won't be as a player.
Maybe he'll become a broadcaster. Perhaps he'll become a coach. Some day, he might even be asked to joins forces with management, which would be ironic in many ways. But remember, that's what happened with Matt Williams.
Williams was in a similar situation as Gonzalez a few years back. He nixed a trade that would have sent him to Colorado, and although relationships were strained, Williams eventually became a minority owner and a special assistant to the Diamondbacks front office.
"Regardless of what happens in the short term," Moorad said, "my hope is that Luis Gonzalez will always be a part of the Diamondbacks family and, hopefully, a part of this organization in some capacity for many years to come."
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0709dbgonzo0709.html
Is Gonzo's greatness fading?
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 8, 2006 12:00 AM
Luis Gonzalez can see the writing on the wall.
Now if he could just grab a can of spray paint and black it all out, he'd sleep a lot more comfortably at night.
But that's not going to happen. The star left fielder for the Diamondbacks knows his time with the franchise is likely nearing its end.
His tenure as the franchise's most visible and popular player has lasted for eight seasons, but eventually, time brings change. And time has come knocking a cold-hearted rap on Gonzalez's front door.
"It's just that the organization, the city, everybody has been so great," he said, staring at the ground and gently shaking his head. "You never want to look at it like the end is here and you've got to go somewhere else.
"But there's the other side of the coin that's saying this could be my last year here. The option isn't mine. The option belongs to the team. They hold that card."
As much as Gonzalez has meant to the Diamondbacks, the business of baseball will ultimately take precedence. Like the game itself, it's all about the numbers - and the bottom line.
The Diamondbacks have the option to pick up Gonzalez's contract for one more season and pay him $10 million. But he is 38 years old. He is batting around .260. Entering Saturday's game, he has hit only six home runs, and just one since April 20.
You do the math.
A delicate issue
The Diamondbacks have, and it doesn't add up. Not when they have a crop of top young outfield prospects such as Scott Hairston, Chris Young and Carlos Quentin ready for duty.
But it remains a delicate issue for the organization. Gonzalez is a special case. He's been a cornerstone of the franchise. He was the hero of the 2001 World Series with his game- and series-winning hit. His work in the community, where he's donated boatloads of money and time, has made him larger than life.
"The Gonzo situation will be addressed in the ordinary course of business," said Diamondbacks General Partner Jeff Moorad, who formerly was Gonzalez's longtime agent and worked up the contract facing the team.
"But to be sure," he added, "it will carry a little extra, special attention because we all value the terrific contributions that he's made to the ballclub and our community over the years."
Thus far, there has been no direct dialogue about the future between the team and Gonzalez or his new Valley-based representatives, Gregg Clifton and Terry Bross.
"It's too early," Gonzalez said. "They don't know what kind of year I'm going to finish with. I could finish with a flurry. I could get hot in July and carry it into August and September and you never know what can happen."
Even if Gonzalez goes on a mighty tear, it may not be enough to keep him in a Diamondbacks uniform. It could, however, help his chances of catching on somewhere else - perhaps with an American League team as a designated hitter, maybe in his hometown with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays - but for a contract probably substantially less than $10 million.
Josh Byrnes, the Diamondbacks' first-year general manager, ultimately will make the final call on Gonzalez.
"He's a tremendous player and certainly the biggest name in the history of this franchise with everything he's done," Byrnes said. "I quickly realized that in my first year here, with how many people have bonds with Gonzo, whether they are teammates, employees or fans."
But Gonzalez's feelings for the organization suffered a major strain last month when Ken Kendrick, the club's managing general partner, haphazardly mentioned Gonzalez's name while discussing the topic of steroids in a story that made the front page of The Republic.
Kendrick tried to apologize. Moorad tried to mend the fences. Gonzalez still feels abandoned and betrayed.
"It's hard not to play things over in your head," Gonzalez said, talking about what happens next. "You just kind of go with it. I've played this game for so long, I've seen so many things that you just learn to adapt and try not to let anything shock you."
Trade or platoon?
There is a chance Gonzalez's name may pop up in trade conversations before the July 31 trading deadline, but as a 10-5 player - having played at least 10 years in the majors and at least five with the same team - he has the right to veto any trade offer.
Then again, his declining numbers - and the remaining balance from this season's $11.5 million salary - could minimize his appeal on the trade market. If another team wants him, Gonzalez has said he'll want something in return to waive his no-trade rights - presumably next year's $10 million option being kicked into place.
But that's as unlikely as Gonzalez accepting a platoon role in left field.
"I don't even want to think about that," he said of shared playing time. "Unless a problem arises, I'd like to think that's not going to happen because we're going to be in a playoff run here. And if we're in the middle of the race, that's obviously not going to be the case."
Arizona was five games out of first place in the National League West entering Saturday's game against the Colorado Rockies, the second to last game before the All-Star break. Staying in the race has become paramount. Gonzalez's situation will have to wait and be determined later.
"At this point, we're focused on the current season and obviously on the goals of winning this season," Moorad said. "We still believe this ballclub has a chance to win the division."
And yet both sides in this relationship can see an end on the horizon.
Part of the family
As Gonzalez talks about his tenure in the Valley, he mentions the names of other players who moved on after becoming household names in one particular city for several years. They may have left, he says, but their reputations live on where they became stars.
"We've got guys who are going to be like that here," Gonzalez said, singling out the likes of young first baseman Conor Jackson and third baseman Chad Tracy. "Guys like me and (shortstop) Craig Counsell, we're kind of the last Mohicans around here."
Gonzalez has said that retirement is not a consideration at this point. But if he's playing elsewhere next year, he could easily return to the fold at some point. It just probably won't be as a player.
Maybe he'll become a broadcaster. Perhaps he'll become a coach. Some day, he might even be asked to joins forces with management, which would be ironic in many ways. But remember, that's what happened with Matt Williams.
Williams was in a similar situation as Gonzalez a few years back. He nixed a trade that would have sent him to Colorado, and although relationships were strained, Williams eventually became a minority owner and a special assistant to the Diamondbacks front office.
"Regardless of what happens in the short term," Moorad said, "my hope is that Luis Gonzalez will always be a part of the Diamondbacks family and, hopefully, a part of this organization in some capacity for many years to come."
