DALLAS -- Way back when, before Alex Rodriguez took his World Tour and before Mike Hampton joined Kevin Brown in breaking the $100 million mark, another man was viewed as part of this year's whopper class of free agents.
Juan Gonzalez.
No player's value has plummeted as quickly as Gonzalez's this year after he posted career lows in homers (22) and RBI (67) and finished the season with a bad back.
It is agent Scott Boras' job to do what he can to help Gonzalez recoup his losses this winter, and Boras said Friday the effort will start with Detroit (although it also should be pointed out that there aren't exactly a whole bunch of teams knocking on the door to sign Gonzalez at this point).
Detroit's ownership made a commitment to him, and I think that deserves review to determine if the commitment is still there,'' Boras said.
Gonzalez rejected a reported $140 million from the Tigers last spring, and things went downhill from there.
Now, Gonzalez and Boras are hoping the outfielder's recent favorable back examination is the start of a turnaround. Boras said he will meet with Detroit general manager Randy Smith during the winter meetings here to begin discussions on a new deal.
The door is open to discuss it,'' Boras said. We haven't had an opportunity because we were waiting for the medical reports -- which came out as we hoped it would.''
Although Boras wasn't specific regarding whether Gonzalez would agree to a one-year deal or would insist on a multiyear deal, he did say that he would reject the arbitration offered by the Tigers. He has until Dec. 19 to do that.
