When you have a chance to pay a million bucks to a 36 year old shortstop coming off ACL surgery you have to take it.
Two days after saying he was still looking to add another infielder, Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has found one - and a familiar one, at that.
The Brewers agreed to a one-year deal with shortstop Alex Gonzalez on Tuesday. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the deal is worth $1.5 million and gives Gonzalez the opportunity to earn an additional $1 million in incentives.
The Brewers didn’t announce the deal because Gonzalez has yet to complete his physical - an important step because Gonzalez is coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
They also need to clear a spot on their 40-man roster to make room for Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, who will turn 36 on Feb. 15, was the Brewers’ starting shortstop to begin the 2012 season.
In 24 games, he hit .259 with four home runs and 15 runs batted in. Perhaps even more important, he solidified the defense up the middle before being lost for the season in early May when he injured his knee sliding into second base in San Francisco.
Gonzalez was also a popular player among teammates.
