CarGo’s back, and no one is happier than Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado
Mar 12, 2018, 7:15 PM
Carlos Gonzalez is, at least for another season, back with the Colorado Rockies.
And it appears nobody’s happier than Nolan Arenado.
After officially announcing Gonzalez and the club had come together on a one-year, $8 million deal (per Spotrac.com), the Rockies posted to its Twitter account two pictures of Arenado bear hugging his buddy in the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick clubhouse.
The moment #CarGoIsBack…NOLAN HUGS! pic.twitter.com/libpse5nIn
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) March 13, 2018
MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman first reported last week that a reunion between Rockies and two-time Silver Slugger and three-time Gold Glove winner could be in the works.
And with the three-time all-star passing his a physical Monday, the deal became official.
CarGo has passed his physical and is back with the rockies officially now
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 12, 2018
Gonzalez, who played nine of his 10 seasons in the MLB with the Rockies, became an unrestricted free agent this offseason following the conclusion of his seven-year, $80 million contract he signed in 2011.
The slugger made $20.4 million of that deal in 2017 alone, making him the highest-paid player on the Rockies roster last season.
However, 2017 wasn’t exactly a banner year for Gonzalez, who struggled mightily at the plate. Statistically, it was the worst season he had in which he played in more than 100 games,
Gonzalez hit just .262 with an OPS of .762 while racking up just 14 home runs and 57 RBIs, all figures well below his career 162-game averages.
Colorado skipper Bud Black, however, told MLB.com Rockies reporter Thomas Harding that Gonzalez is “poised for a good year” and he showed great signs toward the end of the 2017 season.
In 24 games (22 starts) in September and October last season, Gonzalez hit .377 with an OPS of 1.250, 6 home runs, and 16 RBIs — figures much higher than most every other month of 2017.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
