Houston-based scouting report on Gonzalez, Twins' new super-utility player

FORT MYERS, FLA. -- I wound up with an opportunity to cast one of the two baseball-writers ballots from the Twin Cities for the American League's MVP award in 2017. I enjoyed considerably the chance to sort through that season's collection of candidates.

Altuve. Judge. Ramirez. Lindor. Sale. Kluber. Trout (despite injury).

The field was stupendous. I put Jose Altuve, Houston's wonderful second baseman, at the top. I also found a place for Marwin Gonzalez, the Astros' extra-productive utility player, at No. 9.

The deadline for ballots is the last day of the regular season. The Astros winning the World Series was a bonus for backers of Altuve and Gonzalez.

On Friday, Jon Heyman broke the news on FanRag Sports that the Twins had outlasted several competitors and had a made a deal to sign Gonzalez. This was confirmed quickly and Gonzalez will be signing a two-year, $21 million contract after passing a Twins' physical.

Richard Justice has been a sports writer in Houston for two decades – 11 years as a Chronicle columnist, and now an MLB.com columnist since 2011. He knows his Astros and was asked by text for a Gonzalez scouting report that went beyond the numbers.

Richard's response:

"A good reason for that is he hit the biggest home run in franchise history. Game 2, 2017 World Series, two outs in ninth, takes 0-2 Kenley Jansen fastball over the wall. He don't hit that one, Astros don't win the World Series.

"I don't know if he can be as a good as he was in 2017 when he should have been an All-Star, but he still can play anywhere. [Astros manager] A.J. Hinch says all the time, 'That's an amazing thing to know when you come to the ballpark … that you have a guy who can play anywhere.'

"I kept thinking the Astros would bring him back, although he did decline a little in 2018.''