The Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez experience has not gotten off to a great start with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies signed the Cuban pitcher to a three-year, $12 million last offseason and has not been that guy they can insert into the starting rotation.
According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, the Phillies placed the 28-year-old pitcher on waivers a week ago and this morning he cleared waivers, was removed from the team’s 40-man roster and outright to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., still believes in Gonzalez but the move was roster about roster flexibility.
“We have decisions to make on our 40-man roster,” he said. “He was told he wouldn’t make our club, but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be part of our plans.
Gonzalez did not have a good spring training as he allowed 12 runs over 14 innings pitched. In comparison to last season in the minors, he had a 3.13 ERA and 54 strikeouts over 46 innings pitched as a reliever. But it’s a totally different ball game pitching in the minors than spring training, where players are fighting for jobs.
For the Phillies organization, they have to hope that Gonzalez eventually pans out because he is in the second year of a $12 million contract. To be honest, you would like to see him pitch great in Triple-A so at some point in the regular season you can call him up. But it’s a lot hope in those statements and the Phillies’ brass isn’t sure if he is ready.
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