Magic Juan - Gonzalez returns potent bat to Rangers' lineup

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Juan Gonzalez strolls through the Texas clubhouse, a bat in his hand and a smile on his face.

On the way to his locker, sandwiched by those of Rafael Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez, Gonzalez chats with several teammates. He exchanges fist bumps with one of the team's equipment managers.

Gonzalez, who spent the last two seasons in Detroit and Cleveland, is happy to be home.

"I'm excited and happy. My level, it's in the sky because I came back home," Gonzalez said. "I feel comfortable. I'm happy, I'm healthy. I'm ready to play baseball."

That's a great sign for the Rangers, who finished last in the AL West each of the last two seasons after they traded the two-time AL MVP.

Gonzalez, the team's career leader in homers (340), RBIs (1,075) and runs (791), is at his best when he's comfortable in his surroundings. He also prefers a place where he's not always in the spotlight.

Texas is a perfect fit for the low-key slugger.

The Rangers signed Gonzalez when he was 16 in 1986, and he spent the first 11 seasons of his major league career with them. He's reunited with many old friends, including Palmeiro, All-Star catcher Ivan Rodriguez and hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.

There are plenty of others on the team who will happily handle the attention, including shortstop Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod is the most visible player on this team, having led the AL with 52 homers last season in the first year of his record $252 million contract.

Gonzalez will also be playing for manager Jerry Narron, an easygoing guy who was the third-base coach when Gonzalez left.

Happy slugger

"He's as happy as I've ever seen him," Palmeiro said. "You can just see it in him out on the field. The way he's talking out there, the way he's playing the game, he's thrilled to be back. He's going to help us a lot."

Gonzalez never wanted to leave, but fearing they would lose him to free agency the next year, the Rangers made a nine-player deal with Detroit after the 1999 season -- just weeks after winning their third AL West title in four years. He had won the AL MVP awards in 1996 and 1998.

In his only season with the Tigers, Gonzalez played in just 115 games due to ankle and back injuries. He was unhappy in Detroit, and hit .289 with 22 homers and 67 RBIs, his lowest total ever in a full season.

He rebounded in Cleveland last season, hitting .325 with 35 homers and 140 RBIs in 140 games after signing a $10 million, one-year contract.

John Hart, the general manager in Cleveland for 10 years before replacing Doug Melvin in Texas last November, got Gonzalez back.

"I feel like I'm in a family again," Gonzalez said. "I'm close to the greatest players right now in baseball. The big thing is I have peace of mind. It's more fun for me to play baseball."

Gonzalez will bat in the middle of a lineup that is even better than when he left. He'll have plenty of protection hitting between Alex Rodriguez and Palmeiro.

The 52 homers by A-Rod last season were the most by a shortstop, and Palmeiro hit 47 homers for the second time in three years.

Without Gonzalez last season, the Rangers led the majors with 246 homers. Texas scored 890 runs, an average of 5.5 per game, but its 5.71 ERA was the worst in the majors for the second year in a row.

"Juan is an integral part of this team. You're talking about one of the best run producers in the game," said Alex Rodriguez. "He takes pressure off me individually, the whole team and, more importantly he takes pressure off our pitching staff."