The Carlos Gonzalez question hangs heavy over the Rockies’ offseason.

Will CarGo stay or will CarGo go? That’s something I’m asked quite frequently from Rockies fans who are genuinely excited about the 2017 season.

The answer, however, is difficult to pin down because there are so many different signals out there.

Tuesday, for example, veteran Venezuelan sportswriter Wilmer Reina reported that Gonzalez and the Rockies are considering a contract extension for the all-star right fielder.

“They want an extension, but there are a lot of things to be negotiated to get that done,” Gonzalez told Reina in a story in the Versión Final newspaper in Gonzalez’ hometown of Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Reina also reported that Gonzalez plans to play for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic in March, and would like to get in shape by playing in his country’s winter league for Aguilas del Zulia. Gonzalez, however, said that he’ll have to consult with the Rockies about that decision.

Gonzalez, 31, is entering the final year of his contract. He’ll make $20 million in 2017 and is then scheduled to become a free agent. He’s coming off a 2016 season in which he hit .298/.350/.505 in 150 games, with 42 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs. He was also a Gold Glove finalist.

He’s been healthy for consecutive seasons, and though he’s incredibly streaky, he can change a game with one swing of his bat. Plus, he’s the undisputed leader of the Latin corner of the Rockies’ clubhouse.

But now it’s push-comes-to-shove time. Here are the Rockies’ options:

— Sign CarGo to a long-term contract. I know that the Rockies, especially owner Dick Monfort, love CarGo. But with big, arbitration-based raises coming up for players such as Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon and Tyler Chatwood, and the need to prop up a shaky bullpen, is there enough money available to keep Gonzalez around through, say, 2021?

Plus, where does CarGo fit in the grand scheme of things? He still wants to play right field, though he says he’s open to converting to first base somewhere down the line. The Rockies already have a crowded, talented outfield full of left-handed hitters.

“(Playing first base) is something I might end up doing in the future,” Gonzalez told me back in July. “I feel like I can help our club playing in the outfield right now. But that’s a potential move I would look at.”

— Trade CarGo this offseason. There continues to be speculation that the Rockies will trade Gonzalez this winter, even though general manager Jeff Bridich told MLB.com at the recent general managers meetings that he would prefer not to trade either CarGo or Blackmon.

“Are we going to look to improve things in 2017 and add major league players to our process for 2017? The answer is yes,” Bridich said. “I’m hopeful that doesn’t have to come at the expense of players like Carlos Gonzalez or Charlie Blackmon.”

ESPN’s Jim Bowden figures the chances of the Rockies trading Gonzalez is 35 percent.

“There’s a shortage of left-handed power bats in baseball, and with Gonzalez able to play both corners and also showing a willingness to move to first base, there is a strong demand for him,” wrote Bowden, who speculated that possible destinations for CarGo include the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Yankees, Indians, Astros and Rangers.

— Do nothing, for now. The Rockies could enter the season without working out a solution, though that’s risky.

If the team fails to meet expectations and doesn’t compete in the National League West, Gonzalez could be traded next summer, although a mid-season trade might reduce what the Rockies would get in return.

If the Rockies are in contention and Gonzalez is playing well, the club could simply ride him for the whole season and then allow him to become a free agent. The problem with that plan, of course, is that CarGo leaves and the Rockies would get nothing for him.

It’s been difficult to get a read on what Gonzalez really wants. The fact that his agent is Scott Boras makes his future with the Rockies even murkier. Getting a read on Bridich also is difficult.

CarGo told me a number of times this past season that he was intrigued by what free agency would bring. Yet, at the same time, he would also tell me how much he loved playing in Colorado.

He also wants to play for a winner. He’s only been on one playoff team. That was in 2009 when his arrival at Coors Field helped spark the Rockies to a wild-card spot. Since then, the Rockies have had only one winning season.

“It’s about winning. And at this point in your career, you want to be on a winning team,” Gonzalez told my colleague Mark Kiszla toward the end of the 2016 season. “If you would have asked me early in the year, I would have told you I’m going to wait until I hit free agency and see what’s out there.

“But this is a good team. It’s a different feeling. Now I see how guys react in tough situations. We understand we can win. That’s huge for any team, when you trust and believe you can win. It’s not like, ‘Oh, we’re going to play the Dodgers, we’re going to get our butts kicked.’ Now we know we can win against anybody.”

I wish I could tell you what the future holds for Gonzalez and the Rockies, but I can’t. When Bridich traded Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto on the July night in 2015, it showed me that Bridich will pull the trigger if he feels the deal is right. If the right deal comes at the right time, I could certainly see Gonzalez being traded.

But I also like the idea of keeping CarGo and eventually turning him into a first baseman. I think there is a lot of pop left in his bat and he would be an excellent fit there. I have no doubt he could make a successful move to first base — if he’s totally on board with the idea.