SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) -Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez got a day off from manager Dusty Baker, who doesn’t want to push him too hard coming off a severe knee injury.
The 32-year-old infielder missed all of last season because of a fracture in his left knee. He went through a workout before spring training began and was cleared to participate fully.
Baker allowed him to skip workouts on Sunday and plans to use him carefully in spring games.
“I’ve got to pay attention to him, pay attention to his gait, watch his actions,” Baker said. “He was starting to slow down a little bit. He was cleared 100 percent, but not 100 percent on consecutive days.”
Gonzalez is entering the final season of a $14 million, three-year deal. The Reds used a variety of players at shortstop last season, and are hoping Gonzalez can play there full-time, settling down the infield. He batted .272 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs in 2007.
was in a cast for eight weeks in 1977 (with the Dodgers). I had to ease my way through spring training. That’s the year I hit 30 home runs and we went to the World Series.
“He’s way ahead of where I was at that time.”
Non-roster catcher Humberto Cota arrived in camp Sunday after resolving a visa problem, but could soon be gone.
Cota is one of the Reds expecting to play in the World Baseball Classic. Cota is on Mexico’s roster, starting pitchers Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto hope to play for the Dominican Republic, and first baseman Joey Votto expects to play for Canada. Several other Reds might end up playing for their countries as well.
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