Welcome to Flushing

Adrian Gonzalez has a new address. The longtime Padre and Dodger signed with the Mets as a free agent over the weekend. Flushing makes the most sense for a player trying to prove he's still got something left in the tank. Coming off an age-35 season where back problems limited him to 71 games and only three home runs -- this for someone with 311 over his career -- he finds the welcome mat out at Citi Field.
As he heads to Port Saint Lucie in just a month, all that stands between him and winning the first base job is Dominic Smith, whom GM Sandy Alderson hardly appears sold on. Smith, of the chronic weight problem and high strikeout total, is the kind of young player who needs a challenge -- he'll get that from A-Gon.
Of course, back problems are tricky; ask David Wright or Don Mattingly. So Gonzalez is far from a sure thing. But in an off-season where Carlos Santana signed with the Phillies for $60 million, Adrian Gonzalez -- who'll play for the minimum since his 2018 salary is covered by the Braves and Dodgers -- could bring good value to a Mets team again counting its pennies. And if he doesn't, Mets ownership didn't risk much.
(This image of Adrian Gonzalez was taken at Citi Field in 2013.)

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