44 replies to this topic

[Mugsys Jock]

From El Nuevo Dia [Spanish]:

http://www.endi.com/...date=2006/03/19

and picked up in Rotoworld:

According to El Nuevo Dia, Juan Gonzalez will report to Red Sox camp on Monday to compete for a job as a reserve.
His agent reportedly confirmed the deal, saying Gonzalez would have the opportunity to make $1 million. Dustan Mohr has played very well this spring, so Gonzalez will have an uphill battle to win a spot as Trot Nixon's platoon player in right field. Mar. 19 - 1:46 pm et

link: http://fantasybaseba...ort=MLB&show=AL


I guess it can't hurt to bring him in, but it's inconceivable to me that he could be a productive player for Boston. QUite the draw for Pawtucket (as if)....

EDIT: What does "protective mean"?

Edited by Mugsys Jock, 19 March 2006 - 07:37 PM.

[URI]

He'll be good for 10 ab's or so before his hamstring actually jumps off his body.

[mabrowndog]

The sheer comedic value of JuanGone lumbering around the RF corner in vain -- trying to chase Pokey's inside-the-parker after he let it get by him Buckner style back in 2004 -- should be all the evidence needed to realize what a horrible idea it is to play him even one damned inning in the field.

Edited by mabrowndog, 19 March 2006 - 02:51 PM.

[Archer1979]

He's played 186 games total since 2001, with only one at bat in one game last year.

Plus he'll be going into camp with ten days left to Spring Training.

Unless he's magically learned to play first or third base, I can't see the benefit.

Edited by Archer1979, 19 March 2006 - 03:24 PM.

[Grubbery]

Clearly a depth move. It's a minor league deal that promises nothing. At the very least, you have a guy in AAA that's available if things get dicey in the OF or something happens (god forbid) to Ortiz. Best case scenario, he's relatively productive enough to warrant filling a limited PH and fill in to give some pretty big bats a blow. Whether Gonzalez is of the mindset to do so (it's my impression that he's not known as a low maintenance guy in the clubhouse) is another matter.

Low risk. High reward. Classic Theo. In a perfect world, you get some depth against the lefty pitchers at DH when Papi's numbers suck (e.g. vs. RJ).

Juan Gonzalez vs Randy Johnson


5 hr - 12 rbi - .266 avg - .338 obp - .547 slg - .885 ops


In the field, no way the guy EVER plays right. He could, however, potentially play some left at Fenway if he's smart enough to learn to make the wall work to his advantage as Manny has.

Edited by Grubbery, 19 March 2006 - 03:35 PM.

[bigyazbread]

Low Risk. As long as he is willing to go to Pawtucket, he can be this year's Roberto Petagine (damning with faint praise, I know). At the very least, he can stay in extended spring training long enough for Adam Stern to finish his indentured servant time with the big club.

[Manny's Hammies]

According to BDD:

El Nuevo Dia:
Juan Gonzalez to Report to Red Sox Camp on Monday

English translation of El Nuevo Dia report: Juan 'Igor' González finally obtained the chance he has been expecting for so long.

On Saturday, González received an invitation to the Red Sox training camp, his agent Alan Nero confirmed.

“Some time ago we arrived at a verbal agreement with the Red Sox and Juan will be reporting to training camp in Fort Myers Monday (tomorrow)”, said Nero, an agent of the firm MCSG Sports, in a telephone interview with San Juan, Puerto Rico, newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

Nero explained that his client will be going to try and win a spot on the Red Sox roster.

“It’s a minor league contract. Juan is only going to have 10 days before beginning the season to try to make the team, and because of that a high possibility exists that when the season starts he’ll remain in extended spring training or go to Triple-A (Pawtucket) until the team determines that he is ready for play in the big leagues. But Juan has worked very hard and he is in great shape," said Nero.

“Juan will have the opportunity to make $1 million. It all depends on how much time he is in the big leagues,” Nero added.

González, the greatest Puerto Rican home run hitter in the majors and ninth among active players with 434 home runs, has missed 462 games with a variety of injuries over the past four seasons. Last year, a tear in his hamstring limited him to one at-bat with the Cleveland Indians.

“This is a good opportunity for Juan. What he has to test is that he is healthy. Ten days is very little time to gain a roster spot, but we do not we want to put pressure on him. Therefore, the possibility exists that he will spend some time in the minor leagues,” maintained Nero.

González, 36, has been training for several weeks in the municipal park of Toa Low.

He was evaluated there last month by the Cubs and this week by the Rangers and Red Sox.

[Pumpsie]

We DO need some right-handed punch off the bench. If this works out, then great. If not, there's no real problem.

[DieHard3]

We DO need some right-handed punch off the bench.  If this works out, then great.  If not, there's no real problem.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Kind of like the Ellis Burks pickup from 2004, what's the harm? If he's magically healthy he'll produce a lot more than Dustin Mohr, and I don't see how he can be worse in RF than Kevin Millar was the past two seasons in limited action. If he's still capable of putting up a .350 / .550 line, especially against lefties, then it'll be a great deal. And it sounds like he'll play in Pawtucket for 3 weeks, allowing them to be sure he's got something left before wasting at bats

[SoxFanPJ]

Jose Canseco wrote in his book "Juiced" that he introduced steroids to Texas teammates, including Palmeiro and Gonzalez. Asked in February about the book and its allegations, Gonzalez said: "It's not true. ... I never saw needles. I never saw pills. I never saw anything. ... The only guys who have put needles in my body are doctors."

http://sports.espn.g...tory?id=2181227

[mr guido]

Hmm, this is a hard one to fathom. I guess there is a 50/50 chance the Sox will be able to trade him to the A's, depending on whether JuanGone or Big Hurt ends up on permanent DL first. It should be an interesting subtext to the season.

If* (by which I mean "When") he gets hurt, I wouldn't count on him doing anything to work his way back. The guy has a grand total of 8 at bats post-All Star Break in the last three years.

He hasn't even been particularly good the last few years before he got hurt. Since 2002 he's got about a 325 OBP and a 500 slg in the limited action he's seen. Once upon a time he was a lefty killer, I don't think there's much of that left in the tank. But there aren't really any numbers to look at so it's hard to know.

It's pretty weird. Would he take Stern's roster spot after the rule 5 committment is up, and stay in extended ST til then? Someone could make a whole team out of these guys, Boone, Sosa, JuanGone... but I'd prefer if it wasn't the Red Sox.

Who knows though, maybe he can add something. Hopefully he won't be an excessive distraction.

[Williams Head Case]

Honestly, I dont see the harm in stashin him in Pawtucket. Although I don't see him outproducing Mohr, considering the solid spring Mohr has had.

[Nomars Last Twitch]

This signing is in the Glenallen Hill (to the yankees in 2000) mold.

Hill had a ridiculous 16 HR in 132 AB in 2000, propelling the O'Niell-Brosious-Tino MFY into the playoffs for the final time (they only won 87 GAMES [while the Redsox won 85], but won the world series).

Hill was all the difference.

Of course, after a limited time with the angels in 2001, he was out of baseball.
Same could happen with JuanGone.

Hopefully after the same results for his team (WS win for the Redsox)!

Edited by Nomars Last Twitch, 19 March 2006 - 08:46 PM.

[Who is Dana Williams]

I guess it's a move that can't hurt, but I don't see him making the team or playing at Pawtucket. Always thought Juan Gone was one of the many sluggers on the juice.

[FelixMantilla]

Gonzalez was a hell of a hitter at one time. I can't see how the Sox lose on this deal.

[staz]

The efforts of Frank Castillo in 2004 and Mike Stanton in 2005 will overshadow anything this relic brings to 2006. In the NBA, they'd call this a 10-day contract.

[TheoShmeo]

The efforts of Frank Castillo in 2004 and Mike Stanton in 2005 will overshadow anything this relic brings to 2006. In the NBA, they'd call this a 10-day contract.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That could be right in the end, but as others have said, effectively, this might help and couldn't hurt. It's Theo's version of chicken soup.

And just once I'd like to see the Sox catch lightning in a bottle -- like the MFYs have so many times in the past (Sierra, Glenallen Hill, Strawberry, Tony Clark, Tino Martinez in the first half last year and others) -- with a veteran bat who looks washed up but somehow regains the old magic to some useful extent when he puts the new uniform on.

And given the lack of pop on the Sox bench, and potentially in a few places in the line-up with Lowell and Gonzalez in there, taking a low-cost chance on a guy with a big stick is smart.

Edited by TheoShmeo, 19 March 2006 - 08:53 PM.

[Rough Carrigan]

I'll always remember how the Red Sox used to completely control Gonzalez at the plate . . . right up until Scott "Snitch" Hatteberg shot his mouth off in the papers. Snitch was asked the direct question of how it was that the Red Sox pitchers did so incredibly well against Gonzalez. What pitch were they featuring against him? Hatteberg laughed and admitted that the Red Sox simply *never* throw Gonzalez a strike.

From that point onward, Gonzalez showed a little discipline against the Sox and started to get some hits against the Sox.

[satyadaimoku]

Impossible to complain about this signing, but nearly impossible to see how Gonzales gets any playing time on this roster. Our bench is already impossibly crowded. With 14 position players, we have only C (Bard), 1B (Snow), INF (Cora), Nixon platoon-mate and someone to back up CF (presumably Stern). The role that Gonzales could play is Mohrs, and to do so he would have to be better than Mohr - which is hard to imagine, given his defense. The only other way I could imagine him being on the team is if one of those backups also could be the back-up CF, for example if our backup CF could be Mohr (unlikely) or Cora (unadvisable), or Matos could come in and take both Mohr and Stern's job. And going to 10 pitchers would be unfathomable on this team.

Again, no reason to complain about a signing that is essentially zero risk, but I don't really get it.

[Manny's Hammies]

This seems like exactly the kind of signing a team with resources like the Sox should do. All the reports mention how he hasn't played a full season since '01 -- they don't really mention that he was a stud that season, hitting .325 with 35 HR and 140 RBI. Nor do they note that as recently as '03, he hit 24 HR w/ 70 RBI...in only 82 games. He's worth a flyer.

[SoxFanPJ]

“He’s just a no-risk (signing),” Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said following the team’s 3-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles at City of Palms Park yesterday. “He used to be a good player, and he’s willing to go to the minor leagues. No risk.

http://redsox.boston...rticleid=131309

[DLew On Roids]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk of him spending time in extended spring training on the Olderdude plan instead of going to Pawtucket. With his hamstrings, the last thing you want is him playing in the cold Northeast in April. Let him get into baseball shape and find his swing for six or eight weeks, then give him a couple weeks in Pawtucket against live pitching.

Another potential role, btw, is as a Mike Myers basher in September and October. If the move pays off, that's when he'll be most valuable--when the bench roles become much more specific.

[Denny Doyle]

I guess I'm just skeptical that Gonzalez will have the type of team-first attitude necessary in bench/role players. My biggest memory of him was screaming at the official scorer over a double that was ruled an error, thus robbing him of a precious two RBI. It wasn't his team's runs that mattered to Juan Gone, it was his personal stats.

Now, this was 8 years ago, and maybe in the twilight of his career he's discovered a selfless passion for the game. But, like I said, I'm skeptical...

[yecul]

It doesn't hurt to bring him in for a look. Barring some miracle I really don't see him having much of an impact. Stashing him at AAA probably isn't an option and if he's to remain in extended spring training that'd mean they would have to make a move down the road. Who would you drop? Now that Pena is aboard I don't see a spot for him.

[reggiecleveland]

Now that the Willy Mo show is a go is Juan's swansong gone?

[Monster Dick Radatz]

I sure hope so. Juan Gone's best days are well behind him and his clubhouse presence (when he wasn't on the DL) here in Texas was not positive. The Pena signing hopefully turns this into a footnote.

[Spacemans Bong]

I guess I'm just skeptical that Gonzalez will have the type of team-first attitude necessary in bench/role players.  My biggest memory of him was screaming at the official scorer over a double that was ruled an error, thus robbing him of a precious two RBI.  It wasn't his team's runs that mattered to Juan Gone, it was his personal stats.

Now, this was 8 years ago, and maybe in the twilight of his career he's discovered a selfless passion for the game.  But, like I said, I'm skeptical...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If he's willing to sign a minor league contract, he's probably eaten humble pie by now. Sammy Sosa, a pretty good example of a recent me-first player, complained publicly about the iginomy of signing an mL deal and retired instead.

Even with the Wily Mo trade, Juan Gone might get some ABs. Neither Nixon nor Pena are particularly durable, so it's possible Juan Gone will get some at-bats during the year.

[Chemistry Schmemistry]

Exactly. This guy has known nothing but misery the last four years, and he's still willing to accept some time in AAA just for a chance for a few more at bats in the show.

There's no risk. If he's not in playing shape, he never makes it out of ST.

Pena and Gonzalez. I sure hope this isn't a prelude for trading Manny, though.

[UrbaneSprowl]

I think Igor has changed his mind:


Adios, Juan

[jayhoz]

Ingles, por favor!

Edited by jayhoz, 21 March 2006 - 04:36 PM.

[UrbaneSprowl]

Ingles, por favor!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Basically, Juan saw writing on the wall with the acquisition of Wily Mo, and wasn't relishing spending a chunk of his summer in Rhodey, so he signed with the A's instead.

[Paul M]

TranslatorAFTER REJECTING an offering of the Red Averages of Boston, the jonronero boricua Juan 'Igor' González is directed now to be join with the Athletic of Oakland.

González was evaluated yesterday in the stadium Solá Moral of Caguas by the listens of the Athletic, Rubén Stair, who did a positive recommendation to the management of the team.

“'Igor' is seen 'ready' and very well of health. He is a fighter and he lit up excellent. In the evaluation 'Igor' he batted, fildeó and he ran the bases without no problem in spite of the fact that we were in grama artificial. He did not have inconveniences neither in the back neither in the legs and his arm was powerful as always. It was seen with the same ability that has had in all its career”, Stair said yesterday to The New Day.

“Sure that I recommended it. 'Igor' is my personal friend since was a boy, but I eat listens I went to do my work. I went to see if he was healthy and in good condition. My work is to do the recommendation but the management of the team is the one that decides. Already I sent him the report and I am expecting...

[Clipper]

Ingles, por favor!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

From Google Translate:

AFTER REJECTING a supply of the Red Averages of Boston, the jonronero boricua Juan ' Igor' González is now directed to be united to the Athletic ones of Oakland. González was evaluated yesterday in the Solá stage Moral of Caguas by the listening of the Athletic ones, Rubén Stairs, that made a positive recommendation to the management of the equipment. "' Igor' sees ' ready' and of health very well. It is a fighting one and shone excellent. In the evaluation ' Igor' he batted, fildeó and he ran the bases without no problem although we were in grama artificial. It had annoyances neither in the back nor in the legs and its arm was powerful like always. It was seen with the same ability that it has had in all his race ", said Stairs yesterday to the New Day. "Surely that I recommended it. ' Igor' is my personal friend since he was a boy, but I eat listening I went to make my work. I went to see if he were healthful and in good condition. My work is to make the recommendation but the management of the equipment is the one that makes the decision. I sent the report to him and already I am waiting for answer ". Stairs added that if González is invited by the Athletic ones "all the ways lead at this moment to that is in smaller league at least two weeks". The space of designated batter shines open in elenco of the Athletic ones. The toletero veteran Frank Thomas, also an ex- More valuable Player of American Liga, will make debut this season with the Athletic ones and will cover the initial. The gardens will be guarded by Mark Kotsay, Bobby Kielty and Nick Swisher. Oakland also contracted for this campaign the veteran Milton Bradley. No of these players surpassed the 21 pushed home runs and the 82 in the 2005. Snub to the Red Averages ALTHOUGH ITS agent reached an agreement with the Red Averages and were announced officially by this tax exemption like one of its new acquisitions, González finally rejected the supply. Alan Nero, representative of González, confirmed to him the day before yesterday to the New Day that his client had accepted a contract of smaller league with invitation to the field of training from the Red Averages. Even, the equipment circulated a press official notice announcing this company/signature and the name of the toletero vegabajeño was placed in roster of the equipment in its official vestibule of Internet. Nevertheless, González declined at last moment for being united to the Red Averages, according to knew, because it did not wish to play a time prolonged in smaller league. Nero accepted that because ' spring training' is finalizing, the management of Boston was evaluating to leave to González in the field of extended training or to send it by a month to Triple equipment A (Pawtucket) so that the player proved if he were in condition of game. Multiple managements to obtain to a reaction of González or some representative of the company/signature MCSG Sports, that represents the pelotero boricua, were unfruitful. González, of 36 years and with 15 seasons of experience in the Greater ones, as soon as it has seen action in happened the four campaigns through diverse physical problems. In the 2005, the performance of twice the More valuable Player of American Liga was limited to an offensive turn. The interest of the Red Averages by González was to alternate it in the right forest with the left-handed batter Trot Nixon. However, the Bostonian novena acquired yesterday to the quoted one I prospect Dominican Wily Mo Rock in an exchange with Rojos de Cincinnati by the right thrower Bronson the Stream. Rock, like González, is right and it evolves like forester and designated batter. The economic supply of the Red Averages to González was by $1.000.000, depending on the time that was been in the Greater ones.

[941827]

The SF Chronicle today reports that there is no truth to the rumor of Igor going to the A's.

Contrary to a report in a Puerto Rican newspaper, the A's have no interest in former MVP Juan Gonzalez, according to assistant general manager David Forst.

[drtooth]

WEEI is currently reporting that Juan is MIA and not in camp

[Todd Benzinger]

My spanish isn't great, but in my reading of the report, it seemed to be saying that a scout for the A's was recommending JuanGone to the A's FO as being in good health, not that Juan had actually signed with OAK. In fact, it confirmed that Juan's agent had already stated that he was signing with the Sox, but then suggests that Juan is not planning to join the Sox... I think...



Alan Nero, representante de González, le confirmó anteayer a El Nuevo Día que su cliente había aceptado un contrato de liga menor con invitación al campo de entrenamiento de parte de los Medias Rojas. Incluso, el equipo circuló un comunicado de prensa anunciando esta firma y el nombre del toletero vegabajeño fue colocado en el roster del equipo en su portal oficial de internet.

Sin embargo, González declinó a último momento unirse a los Medias Rojas, según se supo, porque no deseaba jugar un tiempo prolongado en liga menor. Nero aceptó que debido a que el 'spring training' está finalizando, la gerencia de Boston estaba evaluando dejar a González en el campo de entrenamiento extendido o enviarlo por un mes al equipo Triple A (Pawtucket) para que el jugador probara si estaba en condición de juego. Múltiples gestiones para conseguir una reacción de González o algún representante de la firma MCSG Sports, que representa al pelotero boricua, resultaron infructuosas.

...

El interés de los Medias Rojas por González era para alternarlo en el bosque derecho con el bateador zurdo Trot Nixon. No obstante, la novena bostoniana adquirió ayer al cotizado prospecto dominicano Wily Mo Peña en un canje con los Rojos de Cincinnati por el lanzador derecho Bronson Arroyo. Peña, al igual que González, es derecho y se desempeña como guardabosque y bateador designado.

rough non-google trans:
Nero, Juan's agent, confiremed the day before yesterday to El Nuevo Dia that his client has accepted a minor-league contract with an ST invite from the Red Sox. The team (RS) already announced the signing of the veteran slugger [wild guess for "toletero vegabajeño"] via their official website.

Nonetheless, Gonz declined at the last moment to join the Sox, apparently because he did not want to play for a long time in the minors. Nero acknowledged that when spring training ended, the Boston FO would evaluate JG in extended camp or invite him to play AAA for a month to make sure he's in playing shape. Multiple inquieres for a reaction from Gonz or a representative of MCSG, who represent the Puerto Rican ballplayer, went unanswered.

...

The interest of the RS in Gonz was as a righty platoon partner for the lefty trot Nixon. Despite this, yesterday the RS traded Bronson A for WMP. Pena, like Gonz is a righty and plays OF and DH.


__________________

the point that their inquiries went unanswered (were fruitless) suggests that neither Gonz nor his agents are claiming to have signed with Oak.

Edited by Todd Benzinger, 22 March 2006 - 02:33 PM.

[mr guido]

Different papers, different stories.

Not only has Juan González failed to report to the Sox -- he was due in camp Tuesday -- but his agent, Alan Nero, said he's unaware of the two-time MVP's whereabouts.

''We're all concerned about Juan," said Nero, who represents González for CSMG Sports. ''We don't know what's in his head. It's sad. I'm worried about him. But you can't help a client you can't communicate with."

González, according to Nero, agreed to a minor league deal with the Sox the middle of last week and agreed to get to Fort Myers last Friday. González later asked if he could report Monday instead. He has been out of touch since.

Nero also said there was no validity to a report out of Puerto Rico yesterday indicating that González had signed with the A's.

''He committed to the Red Sox, he is under contract," Nero said.

Francona, a bench coach in Texas in 2002 when González was a Ranger, said he learned then that ''Juan has his moments. About three times that year it would be like the seventh inning. He'd be going up the runway. I'd say to [manager] Jerry Narron, 'You got a right fielder?' He'd say, 'Why?' I'd say, 'Well, Juan doesn't have his uniform on. I think he's done.' "

http://www.boston.co...eliever/?page=2

He's probably off playing golf with Pokey Reese.

[Todd Benzinger]

Hate to imply that sportswriters nationwide are reporting from our takes on Spanish language articles, but it sure looks that way. In any event, they clearly have not read the Spanish piece or consulted a semi-competent translation. The report in EL Nuevo Dia does NOT, in fact, say that Juan has signed with the As. It says that an As scout was going to recommend him to the As FO as being in playing shape. Here's a key sentence:

Escalera agregó que si González es invitado por los Atléticos “todos los caminos conducen en este momento a que esté en liga menor por lo menos dos semanas”.

"Escalera added that if Gonz is invited by the As, 'all the roads at this moment point to a minor league stay of less than two weeks.'"

Note the "if."

Obviously a side note to the question of where Juan is, although the article as translated in my previous post does report that he has decided not to report to te Sox for fear of being relegated to the minors, making his disappearance less surprising.

Those quotations from Nero and Tito do smell of burnt bridge, though, don't they.

Edited by Todd Benzinger, 23 March 2006 - 10:16 AM.

[Williams Head Case]

Juan's Imagination

The Boston Herald is now reporting that the minor league deal between Juan Gonzalez and the A's was a "figment of his imagination."
A's officials reportedly said they have no interest in Gonzalez, who never even arrived at Red Sox camp. This story just keeps getting weirder.

Wow, haven't heard the "Contract was a figment of his imagination" one in a while.

[941827]

Now Juan Gone may be a Colorado Rockie.  The saga continues..

http://www.endi.com/...rtes/389808.asp

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

“Igor no ha firmado nada. Por eso es que él entiende que todavía es agente libre porque la última palabra la tiene el jugador y aunque su agente negoció con Boston, él (González) nunca firmó con los Medias Rojas. Igor entiende que está libre para escuchar ofertas de cualquier equipo”, dijo el informante.

Según se supo, el acuerdo con Boston fue verbal, pero legítimo ya que Nero alegadamente tiene poder para tramitarlo.

Loosely: Igor never signed anything. He believes he's still a free agent because the player has the last word and although his agent negotiated with Boston, [Juan] never signed with the Red Sox. He believes he's free to hear offers from any team.

Supposedly, the agreement with the Sox was verbal but legitimate because Nero allegedly had the power to agree to it.

[Todd Benzinger]

Juan's Imagination
Wow, haven't heard the "Contract was a figment of his imagination" one in a while.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That link is busted. Haven't seen the Herald piece, but nothing in the EL Nuevo Dia piece quoted JG as saying he had a contract with the As. It quoted an As scout (Escalera) saying he was recommending JG to the As. So the contract was a figment of sportswriters' negligence, and that they blame that on a player is pretty pathetic.

Edited by Todd Benzinger, 24 March 2006 - 04:48 PM.