PHOENIX - Luis Gonzalez knew it was coming, but that
didn't make the news any easier to take.
The Arizona Diamondbacks at a news conference on Thursday
announced they would not exercise a $10 million contract option
for 2007 on the 2001 World Series hero.
Gonzalez held a news conference of his own Friday and the
Diamondbacks' icon spoke candidly about his upcoming departure.
"There was one door and that door said exit," Gonzalez said.
"That is the way I took it. I don't have hard feelings. That
is the route they want to take. There are going to be teams out
there for me."
Gonzalez had a slow start to the 2006 season, batting .259 with
eight home runs in 84 games prior to the All-Star break. Since
then, the lefthanded hitter has an average of .302 with 26
doubles and eight homers in 55 games. But it was not enough to
get him another season.
"For me it is another challenge. The Diamondbacks didn't feel
that I was worth bringing back and it sparks me another fire. It
is another motivational thing to push me," Gonzalez said. "I
hope I get a chance to play against the Diamondbacks. (Manager)
Bob Melvin knows that because every time I go to Houston
(former team) I want to go 10-for-two."
A combination of young outfield talent and two verbal spats with
the organization during the season helped spell the end for
Gonzalez, who has spent eight of his 17 major league seasons
with Arizona.
"It felt like I was eating nails for breakfast. It was just
chewing me up inside," Gonzalez said. "There was no secret
about the $10 million option. I knew from the get-go it was not
going to be picked up. I am not naive.
"I know what is going on. I just asked the front office to give
me the courtesy of letting me know early because once the
season is over I want to move on."
The 39-year-old Gonzalez noted that the Diamondbacks have a new
administration in place from when he joined the Diamondbacks,
with general manager Josh Byrnes and general partner Jeff Moorad
each in their first season with the club.
"I have all the respect in the world for Josh and Jeff, but they
weren't here the other seven years I was here," Gonzalez said.
"It is a new regime. I am from the old school; guys that were
here before and there are only a few of us left. Probably after
this season there won't be any of us left.
"It is hard because this is home. It will continue to be home."
Gonzalez clashed with management in June when Diamondbacks
managing general partner Ken Kendrick told a newspaper there had
been "whispers" about whether the five-time All-Star used
performance-enhancing drugs.
That prompted an angry Gonzalez to hold a press conference to
defend himself. The following month, he vented about being
benched against a lefthander in favor of prospect Carlos
Quentin, who, along with outfielder Chris Young, is being
groomed to be a starter in 2007.
"I was joking with the guys and told them that everyone is
saying I am getting old. I want to ride out on a donkey,"
Gonzalez said. "Just open the right field gate and let me ride
out on a donkey into the sunset."
Overall, he is batting .277 with 15 homers and 71 RBIs in 139
games this season. Gonzalez also became the oldest player to
post 50 doubles in one season - also a franchise record.
The face of the organization since joining Arizona in 1999,
Gonzalez is the franchise leader in just about every offensive
category, including average (.300), homers (224), RBIs (772) and
doubles (308).
"The numbers and everything he has done for the organization and
on the baseball field speaks for themselves," Melvin said. "He
is the face, the ambassador not only for the Diamondbacks but
for sports as a whole in Arizona.
"The thing I am struggling with is coming to grips that come
spring training, not seeing Luis Gonzalez in the clubhouse that
first day. That will be a sad day for all of us."
Gonzalez is one of 21 players in major league history to collect
300 homers and 500 RBIs. San Francisco's Barry Bonds is the
only other active player to accomplish the feat.
During the 2001 campaign, Gonzalez hit .325 with 57 homers and
142 RBIs. He delivered a World Series title with the
game-winning bloop single off New York Yankees closer Mariano
Rivera in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game Seven.
He has hit .285 with 331 homers and 1,322 RBIs in 2,302 games
over 17 seasons with Houston, the Chicago Cubs, Detroit and
Arizona.