CLEVELAND -- Juan Gonzalez agreed to a $10 million, one-year
contract with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, giving the club a
right fielder and power hitter to replace Manny Ramirez.
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Tuesday, Jan. 9
This was a great move for the Indians and an even better move for Juan Gonzalez. Gonzalez is the kind of guy who needs to be comfortable wherever he plays. When he's comfortable, he plays exceptionally well. Gonzalez signed a deal for one year, in a great hitters' ballpark, surrounded by a fabulous lineup. Chances are very good he'll have a big offensive season. Then after the season he can become a free agent and perhaps get a much bigger, longer contract.
This is a great move for the Indians because they needed another big-time bat to replace Manny Ramirez. With Gonzalez and Ellis Burks, they have done that. Plus, Burks and Gonzalez can share right field and DH, which will keep the former's knees fresh and prevent the latter from having to play outfield on an everyday basis.
Getting only one year out of Gonzalez in no way makes the Indians shortsighted. You don't want to commit to him too long in the event either his back acts up, or in the highly unlikely possibility that last year was the beginning of the downside of Gonzalez's career.
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Gonzalez, who has had a history of back problems, passed a team
physical before signing the deal, which includes a $14 million
mutual option for 2002.
The Indians held an afternoon news conference at Jacobs Field to
introduce Gonzalez as their new right fielder and cleanup hitter.
"The driving force was our desire and need for a player of
Juan's ability and Juan's desire to want to play in Cleveland,"
Indians general manager John Hart said. "We have a player that at
31 years old has Hall of Fame credentials."
Gonzalez, a two-time American League MVP, will help the Indians
replace Ramirez, who signed with Boston last month.
"Thank God I left Detroit and I'm going to a competitive team united and on top every year," Gonzalez told El Nuevo Dia, a San Juan, Puerto Rico, newspaper.
Gonzalez was diagnosed with a herniated disc following last
season, his first with the Detroit Tigers.
More troubling for the Tigers was that Gonzalez twice skipped
medical exams, leading to speculation his back trouble was more
serious.
Gonzalez reportedly passed a physical with the Tigers, but the
Indians wanted to take a look themselves.
Last week, Gonzalez told a newspaper in his native Puerto Rico
that he wants to play in Cleveland because he loves hitting at
Jacobs Field and because he's close friends with Indians All-Star
second baseman Roberto Alomar and outfielder Wil Cordero.
Gonzalez has destroyed Indians' pitching as a visitor to the
Jake.
His 12 homers and 36 RBI are the most by an opposing player at
the hitter-friendly ballpark, and he has hit .344 (45-for-131) in
30 games at Cleveland.
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| 2000 SEASON
STATISTICS |
| AB |
R |
H |
HR |
RBI |
AVG. |
| 461 |
69 | 133 |
22 | 67 |
.289 | |
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"It's a great ballpark for the hitters," Gonzalez said Monday
night. "It's a small field with the wind blowing out a lot, and
when you hit it hard, you have a great chance of hitting it out of
the yard."
In the past five years, Gonzalez has 627 RBI to Ramirez's 632.
Since the 1991 season, only three players -- Albert Belle, Frank
Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. -- have driven in more runs than
Gonzalez.
He would fit perfectly into the Indians' cleanup spot vacated by
Ramirez, behind Kenny Lofton, Omar Vizquel and Alomar.
Signing Gonzalez to a one-year deal is nearly risk free for the
Indians and give Cleveland fans something to feel good about.
Indians fans have been grumbling ever since the club lost its
bidding war with Boston for Ramirez and the departure of popular
catcher Sandy Alomar, who signed with the Chicago White Sox.
With a one-year deal, Gonzalez would be motivated to have a big
season so he could cash in as a free agent next winter.
Gonzalez last year rejected an eight-year extension from the
Tigers worth about $143 million. Distracted by persistent trade
rumors and bothered by nagging injuries, he batted .289 with 22
homers and 67 RBI -- a career low and less than half of his average
for the previous four years.
Gonzalez never got comfortable in Detroit's new home, Comerica
Park, batting just .267 there, with eight homers and 31 RBI. On
the road, he hit .307 with 14 homers and 36 RBI.
Another concern the Indians might have about Gonzalez is that he
can be moody and high maintenance. He was frequently accompanied by
a personal trainer and spiritual adviser while with the Tigers.
Gonzalez would be the second significant signing by the Indians
this winter. In November, the club signed outfielder Ellis Burks to
a $20 million, three-year deal as insurance in case Ramirez left.
Cleveland gets to defer $2 million of his salary, paying $1
million each on April 1, 2002, and Oct. 1, 2002.
He would get a $500,000 bonus if he is elected AL MVP, $300,000
for finishing second in the voting, $150,000 for finishing third
and $100,000 for fourth or fifth.
Gonzalez, who receives a no-trade clause, would get $75,000 if
he is elected to start in the All-Star game and $50,000 if he is
selected as a reserve.
He would get $100,000 for winning a Gold Glove, $100,000 for a
Silver Slugger, $50,000 for winning comeback player of the year and
$25,000 if he is picked for a postseason All-Star team by The
Associated Press, The Sporting News or USA Today.
In addition, he would get $100,000 if he is MVP of the AL
championship series and $150,000 if he is MVP of the World Series.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. | |
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Juan Gonzalez looks to continue the winning attitude in Cleveland.
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Indians GM John Hart on what made the Juan Gonzalez deal happen.
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Juan Gonzalez feels the Indians had all the elements he was looking for in a team. (Courtesy: WEWS)
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Mark Shapiro, assistant GM for the Indians, sees Juan Gonzalez as the best fit for Cleveland.
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Mark Shapiro talks about the difference between having Manny Ramirez and Juan Gonzalez in the lineup.
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