Astros Designate CF Carlos Gomez For Assignment

The Houston Astros announced Wednesday that center fielder Carlos Gomez has been designated for assignment.

Astros Designate CF Carlos Gomez For Assignment

“I know I didn’t do my best,” Gomez told the Houston Chronicle. “I wish the best to them. They have a great team and organization.”

This season, Gomez had a .201 average in 85 games for the Astros. He currently has five home runs and 29 RBIs.

“It’s not a secret that I’m not doing my job, and I’m really disappointed in myself,” Gomez also told MLB.com.

The 30-year-old was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in July 2015 in a blockbuster deadline deal that also saw right-hander Mike Fiers join the Astros in exchange for four prospects. Two of those prospects– righty Josh Hader (No. 22) and outfielder Brett Phillips (No. 58) – currently rank among Baseball America’s Top 100. Houston landed Gomez following the collapse of a trade between the Brewers and the Mets, who were set to send righty Zack Wheeler and infielder Wilmer Flores to Milwaukee for Gomez before backing out due to concerns regarding Gomez’s hip.

Nevertheless, his designation for assignment is unrelated to his performance this season, at least according to Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow. 

“This has nothing to do with Carlos’ effort,” Luhnow told reporters before the team’s road game against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, which the Astros won 7-5. “Carlos has put in 100 percent. We all see how much he enjoys playing the game and how much he cares about what happens. It’s one of those situations where, for whatever reason, it didn’t work out here in the way he wanted to and the way we wanted to.”

Wednesday’s game between the Astros and the Twins has been postponed.

Manager A.J. Hinch praised Gomez’s attitude despite the ongoing struggles.

“I just think he put a lot of pressure on himself to be perfect, and the harder he tried, sometimes the more difficult it became,” Hinch said. “It wasn’t a lack of effort. It wasn’t a lack of preparation. It wasn’t a lack of anything other than production on the field.”

Houston has 10 days to either trade Gomez, assign him to the minor leagues or release him. The Dominican can also be claimed by another team off irrevocable outright waivers.

The Astros were a surprise AL wild-card team last year, and after defeating the New York Yankees fell to the World Series Champion Kansas City Royals in five games in the following round.

Gomez was an All-Star with the Brewers in 2013 and 2014. In both seasons, he batted .284 and had 73 RBIs.

He is in the final season of a three-year, $24 million contract that is paying him $9 million this year.

The center fielder was a sought-after commodity last summer after he had established himself as one of the league’s most well-rounded outfielders in previous seasons, combining dexterity at the plate, on the base paths and defensively. From 2012-14, the former highly touted prospect batted .277/.336/.483 with 66 home runs in 1,686 plate appearances, stole 111 bases and accounted for 16.1 fWAR.

Gomez’s career began going off the rails after the Astros acquired him, as he hit a meager .242/.288/.383 in 41 contests down the stretch in 2015. But that line looks appealing compared to the .210/.272/.322 Gomez has compiled this season in 323 trips to the plate.

Houston recalled right-handed reliever Jandel Gustave from Triple-A Fresno to fill Gomez’s roster spot. . Jake Marisnick will take over in center field, while Tony Kemp will receive plenty of time in left field to cover for Colby Rasmus, who is on the disabled list with an ear problem.

ANAHEIM, CA – JUNE 29: Carlos Gomez #30 of the Houston Astros reacts while running to first base after hitting the ball and driving in a run in the 9th inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on June 29, 2016 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)