PHILADELPHIA – There were rumors that veteran Jonny Gomes might be traded before Friday’s 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline. The deadline passed and Gomes was still a Brave, and said he was glad.
Being traded might have meant a chance to join a playoff contender for the stretch drive, or an outside shot at getting the 137 more plate appearances necessary for his 2016 option to vest. That wasn’t how Gomes viewed it.
“The places I’ve been, where I’ve played, one thing that’s a guarantee is I’ve never thrown in the towel,” said Gomes, 34, who played on postseason teams each of the previous three seasons and four of the past five. “Another thing that’s a guarantee is if I’d put on a different uniform tomorrow I (wouldn’t) play different – that’s not what I’m all about.”
The Braves lost six of seven games before Friday and traded away five key pieces of their team in the past week, clearly signs that the front office was now aiming for next season and beyond, no longer placing as much emphasis on remaining competitive this season.
Nevertheless, Gomes isn’t giving up, and cites an example of why the Braves shouldn’t. His 2012 Oakland team.
“In 2012, Oakland A’s were 14 ½ games back in mid-August,” he said, “and we were in first place for the last four innings of the season. So yeah, there’s a bunch of revolving, moving parts here, but individual accountability, how we’ve got to play the game — that doesn’t change.”
If he needs to remind anyone of that, he said he would.
“Absolutely. I think that just comes as part of how I am as a player, my job description on the team,” he said. “I think my thumbprint on the team is a lot more than the statistics on my baseball card, and I enjoy that. If I finish the season here and get 50 more at-bats, I’d like to have more of a thumbprint on some of these young guys, watching them grow.”
Known for his leadership and motivational skills, Gomes was signed to help guide a young, revamped Braves team while serving as a platoon left fielder and pinch-hitter. He signed a one-year, $4 million contract that included a $3 million option for 2016 that would vest with 325 plate appearances.
He was batting a career-worst .205 (33-for-161) with four homers and 13 RBIs in 64 games before Friday, including .231 (12-for-52) with two homers and a .408 OBP against lefties. The Braves have faced fewer lefties than in recent seasons, and Gomes’ playing time decreased as the season wore on.
He had just 18 plate appearances since the All-Star break and a season-low 37 in July before Friday.
Still, Gomes has been lauded by players and coaches for his influence on the team. Frst baseman Freddie Freeman said late in spring training that Gomes had changed the team’s culture and made the Braves believe they could win, even as many pundits and others were predicting in the spring that they’d lose 90-100 games.
The Braves may end up losing 90 games if they don’t end their recent slide. But in the organization, and in the clubhouse, they believe they proved something and made a lot of progress while going 42-42 in their first 84 games, before the toll of injuries and recent trades began to mount.
As far as Gomes is concerned, he’d like to come back next season and continue helping the Braves become what he believes they can be.
“I’ve been a part of some teams with a bunch of revolving pieces,” he said. “From wearing a uniform and from the outside looking in, I truly think (Braves president of baseball operations) John Hart is doing an unbelievable job – fast. You look at some organizations, they haven’t moved as fast. When people are talking about all the prospects we’ve got and all the young guys we’ve got, you look around right now, there’s a whole bunch of top-10 baseball players (in the majors) who are 25 or under right now. These guys can come up real quick and help (the Braves) out.”
As for his vesting option, Gomes said he’s not concerned about that.
“If I don’t get the vesting, it becomes a team option,” he said. “So that’s just in their hands. But I’m not here to have my vesting option kick in. If it happens, it happens. I actually understood that when I signed here. It’s just to protect them and protect me. But I’m not going to play the rest of this year just to try to get that option kicked in.
“’Play me or trade me’ – you’ve never heard that out of my mouth since I’ve been here. I’m fortunate to have a uni, get my 10 years in, you know? Just freakin’ this is all I know, is baseball. I don’t have much of any other hobbies. I’m here for the long haul.”
