Should Brian Cashman add Yankees killer Marwin Gonzalez?

While the New York Yankees continue to step on rakes and hit themselves in the face after a brief hot stretch, the rival Boston Red Sox are starting to get things reoriented after some ugly losses.

Unfortunately for Yankees-killer Marwin Gonzalez, he won’t be around to help Boston compete for a playoff spot.

Gonzalez was designated for assignment today after Boston activated lefty slugger Kyle Schwarber, who they acquired from Washington at the trade deadline.

Gonzalez was barely hitting over the Mendoza line, so that can hardly come as a surprise to most Boston fans.

The Yankees appeared to be fully geared up to take on August and September after acquiring Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo, but some more COVID-19 positive tests and injuries have the Bombers searching for answers at some key positions.

After years of coming through with clutch hit after clutch hit during his time with those infamous Astros teams, should the Yankees take a flier on Gonzalez? His versatility and prior history at the plate could be what ends up getting Brian Cashman interested in his services.

Could Marwin Gonzalez get back on track with the Yankees?

Even if we take into account his poor 2021 season and his outlier offensive breakout in 2017 (which just so happened to coincide with the Astros winning a championship due to the aid of some trash cans), Marwin is a career .256 hitter with 15 home runs and 61 RBI per 162 games.

The value in Gonzalez as a player lies in his ability to do pretty much whatever is asked of him. With 4.1 career dWAR, Gonzalez has played every defensive position except for catcher in his career, making him the type of super-utility man that can take up a roster spot and fill in all over the field.

His ability to hit from both sides of the plate could allow Aaron Boone to move him all over the lineup.

The Yankees have been trying to convince themselves that Tyler Wade can fill this role. Despite his .273 average, his 92 OPS+ in 2021 and 64 OPS+ in his career prove he is a very poor hitter, and average defensive stats shouldn’t give him an automatic spot on this roster just because of his versatility.

At least Gonzalez brings some power and playoff experience to the table.

If they are convinced that a change of scenery can have Gonzalez hitting like he was in Houston and Minnesota, it’s worth taking a chance on him, even if it is on a minor league deal. If he still isn’t hitting, ditching him will cost them next to nothing.

If Gonzalez comes through with just one or two clutch base hits that help the Yankees take down some of their rivals when the roster is burdened with injuries, the signing would’ve been justified.

However, if he is pressed into service as an everyday player, things could get messy.

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