Trade For Gio Gonzalez
The imperfections in the rotation, as mentioned thoroughly throughout the offseason, is undeniable and not one of them have thrown a pitch yet.
Gio Gonzalez is coming off a year in which he went 11-11 with an ERA of 4.57 but in the five combined years prior, the lefty won 84 games and has racked up over one thousand strikeouts.
Last offseason, the Nationals talked in the offseason with the Arizona Diamondbacks but the trade fell after Arizona became stubborn about dealing Ender Inciarte or David Peralta.
Now, Washington needs a speedy leadoff guy and the Yankees could use a starter who packs proven success in recent times to help balance out a rotation of suspect. Cashman could possibly make a deal involving Gardner to obtain the lefty.
There is some risk, as Gonzalez doesn’t become a free agent until after 2018, but with a vesting option (which means he must reach 180 innings in 2017), New York won’t have to employ him beyond next season if he were to be unhealthy during next season.
Luis Cessa, Chad Green and Bryan Mitchell are arguably entirely better suited as depth options rather than guys to hand the ball to once every five days.
Sure, they are a rebuilding franchise, but forming a team prepared to win is certainly on the front of ownership’s mind, as long as it doesn’t hinder the rebuild.
