What is to become of Adrian Gonzalez?

[Lefty Specialist]

Well, no harm in kicking the tires, but I have to believe he goes to an AL team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: No clue as to the remarks above about his looks. Geez.

I don't necessarily recognize "handsome" when I see it, but I do know what "ugly" looks like, and I don't think this qualifies.

[Centerfield]

Lefty Specialist wrote: Well, no harm in kicking the tires, but I have to believe he goes to an AL team.

Or you know, a contender.

[Edgy MD]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't necessarily recognize "handsome" when I see it, ...

I can sure tell you that it rhymes with "Anthony Recker."

[Benjamin Grimm]

So I've heard!

[Edgy MD]

Gosh, Keef. How do you really feel?

[tweet:3n43m06q]https://twitter.com/keithlaw/status/943310276375597056[/tweet:3n43m06q]

[A Boy Named Seo]

I disagree with "irresponsible" and maybe "lolmets", but the rest I'm fine with.

[Frayed Knot]

A lot of this depends on the details of whatever happened to him between 2016 when he played 156 games/633 PA of 784 OPS for a championship competitive team in the non-DH league,
and 2017 when those numbers became 71 G / 252 PA / 642 OPS and he supposedly became this "can't hit, can't move" piece of trash.

[nymr83]

Keith gets a little full of himself sometimes.

1. it is never irresponsible to reach out. maybe you suffer an injury (or three) and the guy becomes your best option down the line.

2. maybe the Mets feel that his recent results were injury-related and can improve. Does Medical Doctor Keith Law know for sure this isn't the case?

3. I'm glad Keith thinks Smith is ready. If Smith is really ready, Gonzalez won't sniff the field. nobody is saying to guarantee him any playing time or even a roster spot past the end of spring training.

4. How does Doctor of Psychology Keith Law know that he isn't an "asset" in the clubhouse. maybe he would fit right in with the Mets guys.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Nymr83 wrote: Keith gets a little full of himself sometimes. 1. it is never irresponsible to reach out. maybe you suffer an injury (or three) and the guy becomes your best option down the line. 2. maybe the Mets feel that his recent results were injury-related and can improve. Does Medical Doctor Keith Law know for sure this isn't the case? 3. I'm glad Keith thinks Smith is ready. If Smith is really ready, Gonzalez won't sniff the field. nobody is saying to guarantee him any playing time or even a roster spot past the end of spring training. 4. How does Doctor of Psychology Keith Law know that he isn't an "asset" in the clubhouse. maybe he would fit right in with the Mets guys.

1. Yepp, agreed.

2. For sure. But he had a bad back that made him terribly immobile last year. Hope he's better, but most soon-to-be 36 year-old ballplayers don't tend to.

3. Yepp, agreed.

4. I'd bet this refers to him going to vacation in Europe while the Dodgers were playing the WS. Probably rankled some.

[Edgy MD]

When Keith Law sees a safe bet (and the notion that Adrian Gonzalez isn't going to set the world on fire is a pretty safe bet) he triples down. See his excoriating review of Tim Tebow.

I suspect that, for prospect watchers, writing about unknown futures is so filled with grey areas, and so exposes them to accusations of "you were WRONG about Jacob deGrom! And Justin Wilson suxx!" that when they see something like solid ground, they are tempted to plant their flags in it deep.

[Frayed Knot]

We're presently up to:
Mets are in "serious discussions" to sign Adrian Gonzalez -- Bob Nightengale
and
"there's a good chance this may happen" -- Jon Heyman


https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/mets-in-serious-discussions-to-sign-adrian-gonzalez.html

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

We need a LH bench bat anyway, may as well be this guy though I had a tiny candle for Grandyman.

"Pending a physical" is the word now.

[Centerfield]

Sounds like a no lose type of move.

What exactly were his injuries last year anyway? Chronic things or something expected to heal?

[Centerfield]

Just read up. Back issues. Herniated disk. That usually doesn’t get better on old guys. Yikes. Anyway, low risk move.

I doubt they will trade Dom smith because of this.

[smg58]

They still have better places to spend their resources, but if minimal resources were spent, it's OK.

[Edgy MD]

The Mets already have spine doctors on retainer because of Wright. It's an efficiency move!

[RealityChuck]

Low risk move, but you have wonder the message this is sending to Don Smith, as they just signed two people to play his position.

[Centerfield]

Edgy MD wrote: The Mets already have spine doctors on retainer because of Wright. It's an efficiency move!

So here, physical is more than just a formality right? Do you bring in the spine guys now?

Anyway if he’s healthy and bounces back he could be our #3 hitter.

[Guest 41Forever]

I think this is a low-risk, high-reward situation. Certainly worth exploring.

[nymr83]

he is already owed all that money by Atalanta - so this is a minimum salary move by the Mets just like Reyes last year - it can't hurt to bring him to Spring Training under those circumstances and find out if he has anything left/if we really need his services.

[Zvon]

Centerfield wrote: Just read up. Back issues. Herniated disk. That usually doesn’t get better on old guys. Yikes. Anyway, low risk move. I doubt they will trade Dom smith because of this.

This^
I'll add I'm not too thrilled.
They BETTER NOT trade Smith and have Adrian our starting first baseman. Unless they get a Trout or someone similar. Ha.

[attachment=0]smithchance-z18.jpg[/attachment]

[seawolf17]

Nymr83 wrote: he is already owed all that money by Atalanta - so this is a minimum salary move by the Mets just like Reyes last year - it can't hurt to bring him to Spring Training under those circumstances and find out if he has anything left/if we really need his services.

Agree. If last year's a trend, then he won't even make the roster. But if last year was the exception and he's over it, he played ten years of 156+ games before that, and in the last five since turning 30, he went .286/.344/.464 and averaged 23 homers. I'm okay with that to give Smith some time.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I'm fine with having Gonzalez around as a mentor/insurance policy for Dom Smith. At the very least, he can provide provide a lefty bat off the bench.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

[tweet:38enc4qd]https://twitter.com/Springer66/status/952581546493579264[/tweet:38enc4qd]

[G-Fafif]

An early contender for next year's tabloid voting, "oh yeah, I forgot about this" division.

[fimg=400:3psja86w]http://i65.tinypic.com/2cd8r60.jpg[/fimg:3psja86w]