Cardinals’ Rumors: Carlos Gonzalez would be a great get for the St. Louis Cardinals

Sep 27, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) waves to fans after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. The Rockies won 12-5. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Good and The Bad of trading for Carlos Gonzalez

The Good

Gonzalez can hit and for power. He stroked 40 home runs while slugging .540 and getting on base to the tune of .325 with a .271 batting average. He also appeared in 153 games, the most in five seasons for Gonzalez. Gonzalez has won three gold gloves in right field and won two Silver Slugger awards. He has slugged over .500 in six different seasons.

A difference making bat that could be a quality add for the Cardinals. He’d bat fourth and give the Cards a fine substitute for the departed Heyward. Gonzalez’s contract is also for two more seasons. That’s a low amount of risk attached to a 30 year old baseball player. He will make 17 million and 20 million in the final two seasons.

The Bad

A few of the man’s appendages are made of glass. Gonzalez has missed a substantial amount of time in several seasons and only played over 130 games three times in his eight year career. As is the case with most lifetime Coors bats, Gonzalez’s power stroke is partially attached to the home field advantage. Playing 3 games there instead of 81 may have an effect on his overall production.

His .758 OPS away from Coors last season was a large drop from his .972 mark at home but still respectable. Gonzalez cranked 16 home runs, 10 doubles and slugged .464 on the road in 2015. Car-Go also can’t touch lefthanded pitching, compiling a wretched Matt Adams like .530 OPS in 2015 against LHP as opposed to a .997 mark against RHP. That’s ugly but only took over a third of his overall at bats.