Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez Gaining Attention In Fantasy Baseball

Is It Time to Add the Houston Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez in Fantasy Baseball

The problem with the status of first base for the Houston Astros is that outsiders get the wrong idea about position battles during spring training. Over the past few days, via Yahoo Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy owners have added Marwin Gonzalez with the thoughts that his hot spring training will earn him the job at first base. I already know what some of you are reading this right now are thinking, “I’ve tried to you tell this Eric, Margo is the guy for first base.”

Gonzalez is having an impressive spring after hitting a career high 12 homers in 2015. This spring Gonzalez is hitting .417/ four homers/ six RBI, so his emerging power has gotten the attention of people around baseball. Gonzalez learned how to play first base last year and can hold his own there. While I get nervous every time he does his toe tap at first base, he gets the job done.

The problem with this idea is the fact that every team needs a super utility like Gonzalez on the team for the flexibility. By keeping Gonzalez as the utility player, you can carry only four outfielders because of his ability to play in left field. With the uncertainty at first base, this will allow the Astros to platoon at first base until one guy takes charge.

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Gonzalez can play all infield positions, having a player like this is rare and valuable. While Gonzalez will get his fair share of starts across the field, to limit him to one position will hurt the team as a whole. He also can come in a pinch run/hit for any player that the matchup favors Gonzalez, and he can remain in the game. Gonzalez has learned how to hit off the bench, so that is his bread and butter ability.

Can the Astros survive with Gonzalez as the first baseman? The Astros have hinted that whoever wins the first base job will be someone who gets on base at a decent rate. Gonzalez does match this criterion, but who would fill in the shoes of Gonzalez, the super-utility role? Maybe Danny Worth, Tony Kemp, or Joe Sclafani. With the talent they have waiting at first base, I don’t see the value of changing Gonzalez’s current role. Give someone from the group of Tyler White, A.J. Reed, Jon Singleton, and Matt Duffy a shot first.

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With the talent they have waiting at first base, I don’t see the value of changing Gonzalez’s current role. Give someone from the group of Tyler White, A.J. Reed, Jon Singleton, and Matt Duffy a shot first. If all of these options fail, then Gonzalez can step in and take the job. Gonzalez will play in most of the games this season. Hinch said that for a person to be a starter at a position that Gonzalez can play, he must be able to maintain his production to keep Marwin on the bench.

**Stats from Baseball-Reference**