The New York Yankees’ search for rotation replacement parts has reportedly led the team to free-agent lefty Gio Gonzalez.
Gio Gonzalez is one of baseball’s homeless millionaires, still unsigned while most of his peers are wrapping up spring training. According to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman, the New York Yankees are trying to toss some change the 33-year-old’s way:
Yankees made an offer to Gio Gonzalez, but there’s a gap. Not a great deal of optimism at moment but there’s at least reason to think both sides might want to come together.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 17, 2019
The Bombers’ offer isn’t about charity, though. New York is currently down two starting pitchers, including ace Luis Severino.
Sevy, who is dealing with rotator-cuff inflammation, isn’t due back until May at the earliest. Also, CC Sabathia will miss the beginning of the season due to a suspension and offseason heart surgery.
A two-time MLB All-Star, Gonzalez is entering his 12th year in the big leagues. He possesses a 127-91 record and a 3.69 ERA for his career, mostly pitching for the Oakland A’s and the Washington Nationals.
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired him from Washington near the end of the 2018 season to help with their playoff run. He rewarded his new team by going 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in five starts.
Overall last season, he went 10-11 with a 4.21 ERA. It was his second ERA over 4.00 in his past three campaigns, a mark he hadn’t hit since 2009, when he was a 23-year-old rookie.
If the Yankees were to sign Gonzalez, they could be working with four southpaws in their rotation when Sabathia returns.
J.A. Happ and James Paxton are also left-handed, and Masahiro Tanaka is the only right-hander other than Severino. The three youngsters competing to be internal replacement options—Jonathan Loaisiga, Luis Cessa, and Domingo German—are all right-handed hurlers.
Gonzalez isn’t the only brand-name free agent starter still available. Dallas Keuchel, yet another lefty, is also unsigned. He’s a couple years younger than Gonzalez, though, and he’s likely to ask for a longer commitment.
The Yankees finish up spring training on Mar. 25. If they want to get a new pitcher ready to contribute, they’d better hustle up.
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