TAMPA, Fla. — The Yankees are bringing in super utility player Marwin Gonzalez on a minor-league deal, sources confirmed. The deal was pending a physical Sunday evening.
Gonzalez, 33, is a career .256/.313/.404 hitter with 101 home runs and 397 RBI in 10-years with the Twins, Red Sox and Astros.
Gonzalez had his best season in 2017 with career highs in home runs (23), RBI (90) and a .907 OPS.
He was an integral part of Houston’s 2017 World Series team, which was later discovered to have cheated—that team was caught electronically stealing signs and relaying them in real-time to the hitters.
That team also eliminated the Yankees in the American League Championship Series that season, a sore point with many from that team.
Aaron Boone shrugged off the possibility of a 2017 Astro coming into the Yankees clubhouse.
“We had Robinson Chirinos last year,” the Yankees manager said. “We’ve moved past that.”
Gonzalez has a unique profile in that he can play every defensive position except catcher. His natural position is shortstop but he has played in the outfield as well as every other infield spot. He also is a switch hitter, which could be useful in a Yankees lineup that is heavy with right-handed sluggers.
“He’s a heady gamer, a pro, switch hitter, who can play a lot of positions,” Boone said of Gonzalez. “He’s a winning player, he’s had a really good career.”
GERMAN SLOW START
Domingo German is making slow progress from the shoulder issue that shut him down for most of the offseason. The right-hander said Sunday morning that he is not concerned about the “impingement syndrome,” that has popped up in his right shoulder twice in the last six months.
“I’m not worried about it,” German said through Yankees interpreter Marlon Abreu. “I felt very good going through the process here. All the training and everything we’ve been doing. I think my arm has responded very well. So I’m not worried about it.”
It’s a slow ramp up for German, however. He just began throwing again last week and is on the 60-day injured list and not expected back until the end of May at the earliest.
The 29-year old, who missed the entire 2020 season serving a suspension under the joint MLB/MLBPA domestic violence policy, pitched 98 innings last season, but just 1.1 after July 31.
SAME OLD STORY
The Yankees had long been linked to Trevor Story publicly, even after their interest in the shortstop had waned. After passing on him in favor of acquiring Isah Kiner-Falefa in a trade, they will have to see Story 18 times after he signed a deal Sunday with the Red Sox.
It’s another division team gearing up for what Boone expects to be a brutal battle.
“It’s a really good division. No question. It kind of usually always is, but right now it definitely seems like teams are peaking so you better pack a lunch when you come to the game,” Boone said. “We know playing in our division, it’s tough. The American League looks tough. Some of the things that Central teams are doing, we’re seeing what Detroit’s starting to become. We play in the highest level and that’s what you want it to be.”
ROTATION UPDATE
Jameson Taillon will make his Grapefruit League debut on Monday when the Phillies come to GMS Field. Taillon is coming off surgery this winter to repair a torn ligament in his ankle. Gerrit Cole is expected to throw a live batting practice instead of pitching in a spring training game this turn through the rotation.
