It appears the Colorado Rockies and longtime franchise cornerstone Carlos Gonzalez will reunite. The two sides have reportedly agreed in principle to a one-year contract, according to MLB.com. That news has players inside the Rockies clubhouse brimming with excitement.
Gonzalez, 32, experienced one of the worst statistical seasons of his career last year. The three-time All-Star hit just .262 with 14 home runs and 57 RBI. The down year, mixed with the awkward offseason in which a number of high-profile players struggled to obtain long-term contracts, hurt Gonzalez on the open market but ultimately appears to have him on track to return to Mile High City. Gonzalez has spent nine of his 10 MLB seasons in Denver, earning three All-Star Game appearances, three Gold Glove awards, two Silver Slugger awards and winning the 2010 NL batting title.
The contract’s value is unknown at this point, with MLB.com reporting that the two sides “are working through the final contract language.”
Mike Moustakas, a player represented by Scott Boras like Gonzalez, just signed a one-year, $6.5-million contract to return to the Kansas City Royals. Moustakas has the potential to earn as much as $22.5 million after incentives. (This contract comes after Moustakas declined a $17.4 million qualifying offer from KC at the start of free agency). A similar, incentive-laden deal could be in the fold for Gonzalez.
There was a noticeable buzz around the Rockies clubhouse this morning with many players excited about the potential of bringing back Gonzalez for another run at the postseason.
“The guy is a freaking beast,” Ian Desmond said. “Adding CarGo puts us a lot closer to where we were last year. I know he’s chomping at the bit to get out and prove everybody wrong.
“I’m sure he’s going to make some people pay this year. I would hate to be on the other side of the ball.”
Gonzalez is a clubhouse favorite and has served as a leader and mentor for the club throughout the course of his career.
The Rockies returned to the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade as the second National League Wild Card last season. Gonzalez was the only player on the Rockies roster in both 2009 and 2017, their last two playoff appearances.
Colorado is in win-now mode, and Gonzalez will only help the Rockies on their purist for the first World Series title in franchise history.
“It’s exciting,” Starting pitcher and Colorado native Kyle Freeland said. “I know he wants to win, and we saw that last year out of him. He’s been in the highs and the lows with the Rockies. I think he wants to stick with the high.”