[Lefty Noob]

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Cubbies "worked out veteran outfielder Juan Gonzalez in Puerto Rico last week but decided not to offer him an invitation to spring training."

I'll admit, when I first saw this, I was thinking that the Cubs could have used an extra bat in the lineup. Gonzalez does have more than 400 career homeruns and 1,400 RBI. But then I took a closer look. The guy's only played in 34 games in the past two seasons, and in 2005 he only had 1 at-bat with the Tribe. Apparently, he just isn't the player he used to be.

[DevilintheDetails]

They shouldn't even be in the position to need a Juan Gonzalez at this point, and it can all be traced back to not sigining Miguel Tejada when he was a free agent. Hendry decided Tejada was too expensive at the time, yet a few years later he's (possibly) offering his most talented pitcher for the same guy.

Hendry's been chasing his tail ever since then trying to sign a big name slugger and fill a hole at shortstop. And with a middle of the order like Lee-Tejada-ARam, a Jaque Jones in right field looks more like a compliment and a left-handed stick than roster spackle, which is what he is, and what Burnitz was last year.

[BigBadBuc]

Juan Gone and Big Hurt are major health risks. It's a tough call because you remember what they once were and hope that there is still more of that left but these guys are always hurt. It's been a waste of money.

BBB

[DevilintheDetails]

Juan hasn't been anything remotely close to his heady "Juan Gone" days for a long time, and he's a head case to boot.

I don't see how he would be any better then giving a young guy a shot to earn a roster spot. Maybe Dusty was begging for yet another over-the-hill veteran to whom he could allocate a ridiculous amount of at-bats to. See Macias, Jose or Perez, Neifi.

[Lefty Noob]

Welcome to GoTeamsGo, DevilintheDetails!

I think more than anything Baker and the Cubs are grasping at straws, hoping that Gonzalez can pull a comeback of epic proportions and become a solid contributor. Like you said, though, he's a bit of a head case. I sure wouldn't want to touch him at this point in his career, especially not after the last two seasons.

[DevilintheDetails]

This is emblamatic of Dusty's reign with the Cubs. Look for any reason to give at-bats and PT to the dried-up other rans on the roster rather than use it as a chance to observe the young guys and see what they've got. Look what Murton did last year when they gave him even the smallest chance to play.

Sure, playing rookies is always a risk because you don't know what you'll get. But that's got to be better than running out some tired re-tread from whom you can pretty much be assured to know what you're going to get.

This season's top candidates for the Cubs' Favored Re-Tread, as anointed by Dusto: 1. Neifi, 2. Marquis (Gus) Grissom, 3. Yosh Kawano

[legend]

but I haven't carried a comb in a long time. Gonzalez was on track for the Hall of Fame at one point, with 8 100 RBI seasons from 1991 thru 2001. He should never have left texas the first time. As it is, he is 37, but four seasons removed from his last great year. He would have to be given Hall of Fame consideration, but he will most likely fall short.