Mets finalize 1-year deal with 1B Adrian Gonzalez

NEW YORK » Adrian Gonzalez vows to have a quiet voice with the New York Mets.

A month after the first baseman was released by Atlanta from a contract that guaranteed him $21.5 million this year, Gonzalez finalized a one-year deal with the Mets on Thursday for the $545,000 major league minimum.

Bobby Valentine, Gonzalez’s manager during Boston’s last-place 2012 season, was quoted by the New York Post this week as saying: “He can really talk — he is a smart guy and he is excessive in his willingness to share his thoughts.”

“I think Bobby was in the right there,” Gonzalez said. “I think going into that 2012 season I heard a lot of people tell me that I had to be more of a vocal leader and do things that were out of context for me. I feel like I went into that season trying to make myself do something that I’m not used to doing. And I do agree with Bobby: I think I had a lot of opinions that year. But I don’t think it is who I am.”

Gonzalez said he reverted to his previous demeanor after he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2012.

“I made a commitment to myself to not be somebody that someone else wants me to be and just be who I am,” he said. “I think that was the only season when I’ve been that person, and I promise that is not who I am and that’s not who I’ll be and definitely not who I’m going to be with the Mets because that’s not me.”

Now 35, Gonzalez will compete for playing time with rookie first baseman Dominic Smith, who hit .198 in 49 games after his August call-up. Outfielder Jay Bruce and Wilmer Flores also are possibilities for time at first, general manager Sandy Alderson said this week.

“There is somewhat of a defined role as far as starting a good amount of games but it’s not set in stone,” Gonzalez said. “I am a player that can put up great numbers, drive in runs and help the team win.”

Gonzalez hit .242 for the Dodgers last season, when he was limited to 71 games because of a herniated disk in his back. He was left off the postseason roster and watched postseason games from a luxury suite. Major League Baseball limits the dugout to active players during games, and Gonzalez said the Dodgers didn’t allow inactive players in the clubhouse.