Daily Dodger in Review: Another top season for Adrian Gonzalez

And here we go again, the first of our annual (almost) Daily Dodger in Review posts, starting with:

ADRIAN GONZALEZ, 32, first base.

Final 2014 stats: .276 batting average, team-high 27 homers, major-league best 116 runs batted in, 83 runs, 41 doubles, .335 on-base and .482 slugging percentage.

Contract status: Four more years left on his contract at $88 million.

The good: Outside of one early-season slump, was remarkably consistent. Figures to garner his share of votes for most valuable player. He’ll turn 33 next April so should be in decline, but showed little sign of it last season. Played in a team-high 159 games and led the team with 41 doubles, the fourth time in his career he’s had 40-plus doubles. Hit .303 with 23 homers and 86 RBIs against right-handers. Batted .333 with runners in scoring position. Still plays an above-average first base.

The bad: For the first time in years, he struggled to hit left-handers (.201, four homers and 30 RBIs in 159 at-bats). From May 16 to July 11, he hit just .216 with two homers in 42 games. Went three for 16 in postseason (.188).

What’s next: More of the same, the Dodgers hope. When you’re signed for another four years with an almost untradeable contract, they don’t have much choice. They’d like him to hit closer to his .272 career average against left-handers, but that bat doesn’t figure to get any faster against power pitchers.

The take: Gonzalez was the only player who attended Andrew Friedman’s introductory news conference as president of baseball operations, so he’s smart too. He was even allowed to ask a question: “Are you looking to acquire a younger, faster, stronger first baseman?” See, told you he was smart. Of course, Chief Executive Stan Kasten quickly chimed in: “You forgot the word ‘cheaper.’ ”

Kasten, of course, knew exactly what Gonzalez was owed when he approved the mega-deal with the Boston Red Sox that brought the first baseman over in 2012. The Dodgers can’t complain about what they’ve received in return.

If his best years figure to be behind him, he’s certainly aging well. And he doesn’t lack for confidence. Nor does he lack for motivation. He’s still looking for his first World Series.