May 30, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) warms up before the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies could still move Carlos Gonzalez, after all -- internally, that is.
Speaking with MLB.com, manager Walt Weiss revealed that the Rockies are considering moving Gonzalez to first base in the long term.
"CarGo at first base is something we've talked about introducing a little bit this spring, but it's more of a potential long-term outlook," Weiss told MLB.com
Entering his ninth MLB season -- eighth with the Rockies -- Gonzalez figures to play a major role on the club once again this season, particularly coming off a resurgent 2015, in which he hit a career-high 40 home runs with 97 RBI.
Now that the Rockies have remedied their surplus of frontline outfielders by trading Corey Dickerson to the Tampa Bay Rays following the recent acquisition of Gerardo Parra, it is unlikely that Colorado will trade Gonzalez this offseason.
However, his name will undoubtedly be mentioned in rumors at the trade deadline if he remains with the Rockies up to that point.
If Gonzalez remains in Colorado for the long term, he could be transitioned to first base within the next couple years, which could help the longevity of his career, given his struggles with injuries over the past few years.
Equipping a player who has averaged 31 home runs and 98 RBI per 162 games at a .290/.347/.524 clip with the skills to play another position in order to keep his bat in the lineup would be a savvy move for the Rockies.
However, fans shouldn't expect to see him play a new position in games quite yet.
"We're not really looking to circulate him at first base -- just starting to introduce it in a practice setting," Weiss said.
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