Well, the rumor was accurate: Carlos Gonzalez is joining the Chicago Cubs today, per multiple reports. Jim Adduci will indeed be the one heading out.
The 33-year-old, lefty-batting outfielder hasn’t done much at the plate in several years, but man, there was a time when he was something (via FanGraphs):
As you can see, CarGo was last an above-average hitter (when considering park and league context) three years ago, though he did hit above-average against righties just last year. He got a look with the Indians this year, but everything was awful, from the amount of contact to the quality of contact to the power.
Hopefully a little re-set and a new organization can draw out the best in Gonzalez, who maybe has a little something left in the tank.
Cubs fans of a certain age will immediately think of another older outfielder who was formerly a star, and then joined the Cubs halfway through the season when it seemed like he was done. Jim Edmonds came to the Cubs in 2008, having been terrible with the Padres to open the season, and having not really been a great hitter in three years. Dude wound up hitting .256/.369/.568 in a half of a season, helping that particular Cubs team to the postseason and to some of the best offensive marks in the league.
To be sure, what Edmonds did back then has absolutely nothing to do with what Gonzalez might do now, but it’s fun to dream on narratives, isn’t it? We’re fans. We like stories. I hope Gonzalez gives us one.