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Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez pegged for bounceback season?

By Kevin Henry

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 11: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies argues with home plate umpire Marvin Hudson #51 after striking out against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning and was ejected from the game at Wrigley Field on June 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 11: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies argues with home plate umpire Marvin Hudson #51 after striking out against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning and was ejected from the game at Wrigley Field on June 11, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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The Colorado Rockies did not make a qualifying offer to outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. One of the faces of the franchise since he was acquired (along with closer Huston Street and others) in a November 2008 trade that sent Matt Holliday to the Oakland A’s, Gonzalez is now a free agent looking to see if he can land with another team after a disappointing 2017.

However, according to a recent ESPN poll of 40 general managers, assistant general managers, baseball operations people and scouts, many believe that CarGo is due for a bounceback year in 2018 and will benefit whatever team lands him.

In their recent article asking these 40 individuals nine “Hot Stove questions,” they were asked, “Which free-agent CarGo — Carlos Gonzalez or Carlos Gomez — is likely to re-establish himself as a prime player in 2018?” Of the 40 individuals polled, 29 said it would be Gonzalez.

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Gonzalez is coming off a season where he finished with a .262 average with 14 home runs and 57 RBI in 136 games. Additionally, his .423 slugging percentage was his lowest since his lone season in Oakland in 2008. However, he raised those numbers significantly by hitting .377 with six homers and 15 RBI in September as the Rockies secured the second National League Wild Card slot.

What helped Gonzalez with the late-season turnaround? CarGo told USA Today that a change in his sleeping pattern made a huge difference, both mentally and physically.

So did CarGo find his groove just in time to salvage his 2017 season and find something to carry over to 2018? According to those polled by ESPN, yes. One scout even went as far as to say that CarGo would give whichever team he lands “at least one really good year.”

Where will Gonzalez end up? MLBTradeRumors.com has CarGo signing with the Baltimore Orioles for a one-year, $12 million contract. Others have said Gonzalez could be a good fit with the San Francisco Giants.

Next: What a potential Colorado-St. Louis trade might look like with Charlie Blackmon involved

Could CarGo end up back in Denver? It is possible but unlikely. Other teams will likely make a higher bid for Gonzalez, keeping any kind of a Rockies reunion from happening.

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