Left-hander aware how much Washington gave up to get him That the Nationals traded four of their top prospects to the Oakland Athletics for Gio Gonzalez was not lost on the left-handed pitcher.
In town for his introductory press conference, the 26-year-old talked about the expectations that will come with being part of an up-and-coming rotation that includes right-handed ace Stephen Strasburg and the steady Jordan Zimmermann.
“I think it’s an honor that the Nationals did that,” Gonzalez said. “The players they gave up were outstanding ballplayers. I think they’re going to do a great job in Oakland. I think that this was, in my opinion, a fair trade where when all was said and done Oakland was happy with their trade and I’m assuming the Nationals are happy with their trade.”
Washington was so impressed with its newest acquisition, picked up in a Dec. 22 trade with Oakland, that within weeks it had signed Gonzalez to a five-year, $42 million extension with a team option for the two years following. If the young rotation can stay healthy, the Nats know they could have one of the sport’s top units together for years.
“We’ve done a lot of homework. I’ve known Gio for a long, long time,” Washington general manager Mike Rizzo said. “I know the scout who signed him for a long, long time. We’re convinced of the makeup. We’re convinced of the character. We’ve scouted the player extensively, and we’re convinced of the skill set and the talent level. It gives us cost certainty as a franchise, and it gives the player some ease of mind that he’s there.”
Now that the Prince Fielder sweepstakes is officially over, Gonzalez likely will serve as the organization’s biggest offseason acquisition. The Nats traded away pitchers A.J. Cole, Tom Milone and Brad Peacock and catcher Derek Norris, four of the top 12 prospects in Washington’s talented farm system. But Rizzo believes Gonzalez is worth it. He posted a 3.23 ERA in 2010 and followed that with a 3.12 ERA in 2011. He also has topped 200 innings each of the last two years. Gonzalez struck out 197 batters last season, tied for 17th overall. But he also led the sport with 91 walks.
He was understandably relieved once the rumors of his impending trade finally came to fruition.
“I was still training hard. I was still working hard. I was still preparing myself just in case nothing happened,” Gonzalez said. “But when it happened, it hit me to a point where I was like, ‘That’s it. No more green-and-gold. It’s time to represent a new city, a new team.’ And I’m going to do what I tried to do in Oakland. I’m going to pass it down here. I’m going to try to win a title.”
