The New York Yankees discussing the Gio Gonzalez possibility is becoming quite interesting after the Luis Severino injury.
The ace is on the shelf.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino was scratched on Tuesday prior to being thrown on the shelf for at least two weeks with a case of shoulder inflammation. His status for Opening Day is in serious doubt. Most likely, the Bombers will be required to find an alternative Opening Day starting pitcher.
There are unemployed options. Enter Gio Gonzalez.
According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the organization “has discussed” the possibility of the free agent southpaw. He proclaims that the Yankees “do like” the lefty and may travel down that road.
“According to a source, the Yanks like Gonzalez and might be inclined to place a call to agent Scott Boras to find out what it would take to sign him,” Feinsand reports. “The issue, of course, is what they would do with the veteran left-hander once Severino returns, as Gonzalez has made only six relief appearances during his 11-year career, the most recent coming in 2009 while he was still with Oakland.”
Of course, Severino, 25, isn’t expected to be out long-term. Unless things take a turn for the worse, two weeks is the current timetable.
With Sevy, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia gobbling up all five starting rotation spots, the addition of Gonzalez would represent a case of “one too many.”
While the classic argument remains true—that a big-league club can never employ too many starters—it’s oftentimes tough to employ six “big names,” as would be the case.
Gonzalez, 33, enjoyed a solid season a year ago while splitting his time between the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers. He pitched to a 4.21 ERA, 1.444 WHIP, and a 10-11 record while striking out 148 strikeouts in 171 total innings pitched.
