[mikev]

Crusaders ink Gonzalez

A relatively quiet free agent period for the Crusaders ended with the announcement that outfielder Vicente González had been signed to a 2-year deal paying him just under $5 million per season.

González, who had a down year in 2011 with the Des Moines Kernels, had four solid season with the Green Bay Wolves before last year. In hopes that he basically just hated playing for BaRossi, we felt like it was worth giving him a deal and his salary requirements fit well within our budget

With the departures of outfielders Carlos Garza and Joaqin Lopez, California needed to aquire at least one outfielder to fill out the 25 man roster. It's likely that Gonzalez will primarily hit against left handers, and serve as a backup against righties as well as getting several games in at the DH position.

While his defense isn't what it used to be, the team feels like they can safely hide him in left field occasionally.