Acquired in a nine-player trade from Texas before last season, Juan Gonzalez had his worst year since the strike-shortened 1994 campaign. The Tigers expected more than 22 home runs and 67 RBI from the two-time American League MVP. He was limited to 115 games because of foot, ankle and back injuries. He also complained loudly about the distance to the fence in left-center at Comerica Park and left the team with two days remaining in the season while sidelined with a herniated disk.
Despite his subpar statistics, Gonzalez showed just enough last season to serve notice that he remains a formidable hitter. When he's on, he has exceptional plate coverage and is capable of driving any type of pitch out of the park. His biggest weakness remains chasing outside breaking balls. His slugging percentage last season on the road was .545, not far below his career mark of .566. It was at home where Gonzalez struggled the most, hitting just eight home runs one inside-the-park in 217 at-bats.
Gonzalez isn't going to crash into walls trying to make spectacular plays. It's rare when he makes a diving effort, still he's a solid right fielder. Though he has only average speed, he gets a good jump on the ball, and his hands are sure. He throws well and usually to the right base. Gonzalez is not particularly fast, but he's a smart baserunner. He makes good decisions about when to take the extra base and when to hold up. He rarely attempts to steal. He slugged just .461 at home.
Although he's been around for more than a decade and his trophy case is full, Gonzalez is only 31 years old. He's coming off a poor season, but it's not necessarily because his physical tools are fading the move from Texas to Detroit proved to be a difficult adjustment for him. His back is a concern, however, and the extent of that injury could play a key role in determining whether he stays in Detroit or finds another team willing to buck up big free-agent dollars to take a chance that he'll return to form.
