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By Scott Bordow
East Valley Tribune
PHOENIX - Luis Gonzalez's career with the Arizona Diamondbacks is coming to
an end.
He knows it, you know it, and the Diamondbacks know it, even while they
continue to praise Gonzalez.
Arizona isn't going to pick up Gonzalez's $10 million option for next season.
The D-Backs want to get younger, not older, and, let's be honest, a 38-year-
old outfielder who's hitting .254 and has one homer since April 20 doesn't
deserve that kind of money.
"I could run off and hit 30 homers, and they may still not want me back,"
Gonzalez said.
The question becomes, then, not whether Gonzalez will clear out his locker,
but when. And more importantly, how.
It would be a shame if Gonzalez and the Diamondbacks parted with bitter
feelings. He has meant so much to the franchise; his No. 20 should hang in
the rafters the day he plays his final game here.
Unfortunately, for the first time since he put on an Arizona uniform, what's
good for Gonzalez isn't necessarily what's good for the Diamondbacks, and
that could cause an ugly and regrettable split.
Let's be clear on one point: No one is at fault here. The Diamondbacks need
to do what's best for the franchise, and if that means benching Gonzalez, so
be it. Gonzalez, on the other hand, can't be blamed for wanting to prove he's
still the player he once was, even if that runs contrary to the Diamondbacks'
best interests.
In a perfect world, Gonzalez would accept less money and finish his career in
Arizona. But that's not going to happen. He still sees himself as an everyday
player - even if his statistics say otherwise - and he won't get that
opportunity next season with Scott Hairston, Chris Young and Carlos Quentin
waiting in the wings.
More intriguing - and potentially more combustible - is what might occur before
the July 31 trading deadline. Gonzalez said that if he's going to approve a
trade - he's earned the right to veto any deal as a 10-5 guy (10 years in the
majors, the last five with the same team) - "I'll want something in return."
That can only mean a team picking up his $10 million option, but there's little
chance of that happening.
So let's say Gonzalez remains a Diamondback all season. What then?
Clearly, if Gonzalez continues to struggle at the plate and Arizona falls out
of contention in the National League West, it would make sense to give Hairston
, who hit .340 with 18 homers and 55 RBIs at Triple-A Tucson, the chance to
play every day.
But could the Diamondbacks put the face of their franchise on the bench? How
would that play in the clubhouse, where the respect for Gonzalez is universal?
(It might not play well in the community, either, but fans aren't coming to the
games now, so what's the harm?) Manager Bob Melvin declined to discuss what
might happen, saying instead that Gonzalez "is a guy we need production out
of and he knows it."
Gonzalez made it clear he will not accept a reserve role.
"That is not an option," Gonzalez said.
But it's not his decision.
"That is not an option," he said again.
Now you know why this can get ugly.
The backdrop here is Gonzalez's tenuous relationship with managing general
partner Ken Kendrick. Gonzalez hasn't gotten over the fact Kendrick dropped
his name in a conversation about steroids, and that one careless comment has
strained his relationship with the organization.
Asked Thursday if he was still having fun, Gonzalez paused, forced a smile and
said, "It's all right. I love playing the game. All the other stuff that goes
on . . . it's a different regime here now."
Gonzalez has had a glorious career with the Diamondbacks. He and Randy Johnson
were the pillars the franchise was built on. But, eight years later, it's time
for a divorce.
Let's just hope, somehow, that it's an amicable one.
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