Cargo should still be a Rockie, which makes this series painful to watch

It was weird seeing Carlos Gonzalez in a Cubs uniform on Monday, his first day manning the outfield at Wrigley. But it was even stranger to see him in Chicago duds when the Rockies were the opposition yesterday; something didn’t quite seem right.

In a way, it was like bumping into an ex. The conversations were genial, even friendly. But there was definitely something that felt off.

Maybe it was nostalgia kicking in, as the visual caused Colorado fans to remember all of the great moments Cargo had from 2009-18 in the purple pinstripes. Maybe it was jealousy, as it was frustrating to watch Gonzalez drive in two runs and score another in the Cubs 6-3 win on Tuesday night. Or maybe it was sadness, as the sight reminded everyone that the nearly 10-year relationship could still be going strong.

In reality, it was probably a little bit of all three. It started as happy memories, moved to envy and then transformed into anger.

That’s what made the way the Rockies handled the reunion so galling. Here’s a tweet from Monday that perfectly encapsulates the way the team addressed seeing Gonzalez in the Windy City:

CarGo is a Rockie, always and forever. pic.twitter.com/xnyMNWGSPx

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 4, 2019

That seems nice. It’s certainly classy. But it’s pretty disingenuous.

After all, if Cargo truly was Rockie “always and forever,” he’d still be on Colorado’s roster.

Last season, he put up solid numbers, hitting .276, belting 16 homers and driving in 64 runs during his final season with the club. That production was good enough for fifth on the team in all three categories.

Cargo was also wildly popular in the clubhouse. That’s what was most evident from the interactions at Wrigley Field yesterday; his former teammates genuinely love the guy.

And it’s not liking keeping Gonzalez would’ve been expensive. This season, the Cubs are paying him a mere $2 million; there are 14 players on the Rockies roster earning more in 2019.

Admittedly, the Rockies needed to turn the page to younger everyday players in the outfield. It was time for David Dahl to consistently be in the lineup, with Raimel Tapia as the first bat off the bench.

And there’s no doubt that Colorado’s hands have been somewhat tied by other contracts. They have to find a home for Ian Desmond; his $15 million salary dictates him being in the lineup most games.

But Gonzalez clearly would’ve been a better option that Noel Cuevas or Yonathan Daza when it was time to dig deep in the outfield. And moving Desmond to the infield on occasion, opening up a spot for Cargo in the outfield, would’ve made more sense that continuing to swing and miss with Pat Valaika and Garrett Hampson.

It stinks seeing Cargo in another uniform. That’s because we have fond memories of him in Rockies gear and we hate seeing him get big hits for someone else. But mostly, it’s because it doesn’t have to be this way.

Carlos Gonzalez could still be a Rockie, not just always and forever.

Follow @jamesmerilatt