Gonzalez looks to stay healthy
Mets’ Gonzalez hoping new workout routine can help him stay healthy
PORT ST. LUCIE — Adrian Gonzalez’s back and bat are intertwined: If one is good, chances are so is the other.
For now the back is fine, according to the 35-year-old first baseman. But the former All-Star, who has three bulging disks, also realizes it will take the grind of spring training and receiving regular atbats before he truly understands if he can be an asset to the Mets this season.
“I think everybody goes into spring training with the mentality you are going to be healthy all year, so that is my mentality,” Gonzalez said Friday upon reporting to camp, one day ahead of the deadline for position players.
Gonzalez had back issues in 2016 with the Dodgers, but thought he had recovered after an uneventful spring training last year. Then, in April, he was lifting his daughter and got pummeled with excruciating back pain.
And when he tried to return too quickly, the problem worsened. Gonzalez ultimately missed most of the season, as Cody Bellinger took his spot at first base and emerged as the NL Rookie of the Year.
After the season, Gonzalez was traded to the Braves and released. Though he will earn $22.3 million this season, the Mets are only responsible for $549,000 of that salary.
Gonzalez said he has changed his routine and become more beholden to stretching exercises than the strength-building workouts in which he previously engaged. He expects that “smart” approach will keep him on the field.
If Gonzalez can show anything this spring, the Mets are prepared to install him as the starting first baseman, with Dominic Smith likely to be sent to Triple-A Las Vegas.
“I got to play with Adrian, I know him well and he’s going to add a ton to our team,” said manager Mickey Callaway, who was Gonzalez’s teammate with the Rangers in 2004. “He definitely can pick it at first, and this guy is a professional hitter. He’s going to go out there and give you a tough at-bat. You do that and have the type of talent that he has, and the type of experience that he has then he can definitely go out there and get the job done for us.”
Gonzalez had a reputation with the Red Sox of bringing strong opinions to the clubhouse — at the risk of alienating teammates — but Callaway said such a voice is welcomed with the Mets.
“I think he’s going to add accountability,” Callaway said. “If that is a controversial, we’ll take controversy. He holds guys to a standard because he wants to win and that is what we need in our clubhouse. That is the reason we got [Todd] Frazier, that is why we got Jay Bruce back and that is the reason we got Gonzalez.”