Report: Gio Gonzalez Traded Once Again, Headed to the Nationals
Despite turning only 26 next season, having electric stuff, and having posted two above average seasons in the Major Leagues, Gio Gonzalez is on the move for the fourth time in his career, being traded to the Nationals for an enormous package of prospects. As Keith Law noted on Twitter, the Nationals will be sending catching prospect Derek Norris, righthanders Brad Peacock and AJ Cole, and lefty Tom Milone.
It’s a boon of riches for the Athletics, collecting a catcher who, while he will never post great averages, has power and is improving on defense, while also stealing away the top two pitching prospects in the Nationals system along with Milone who is graded as a B- by John Sickels:
“At some point, the radar guns stop mattering. The guy can simply pitch. He has little margin for error, but he will probably have a better career than hundreds of guys who throw 10 MPH harder.”
Even though the Nationals are looking to win now, this deal still looks like an overpay. Though adding Gio Gonzalez to a rotation fronted by Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann, with a lineup soon to have Bryce Harper added to that other Zimmerman and Jayson Werth, improves their lot in 2011, Gonzalez has always toed the line when it comes to his ability to throw the ball over the plate. If he can continue the gains he made to his strikeout rate last season (8.8 per 9) without seeing his walk rate also rise (4.1), he should continue to see success. But giving up such a bounty of talent for a player who walks that tightrope is worrying.
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