Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Chatter About Gio To Nationals: I Say Go For It

Ken Rosenthal reported on Monday night that the Washington Nationals are trying very hard to get a deal done for the Oakland Athletics' Gio Gonzalez.

Reports suggest some type of a four-for-one trade would be needed to obtain the lefty 26-year-old from the Athletics. 

Because he plays in a division far far away and in a league we almost never see, Gonzalez isn't a well known commodity to most Nationals fans. 

But he is a really good pitcher. 

A lefty, the six-foot, 200 pounder has averaged 16-10, 3.17, 7.7/4.1/82 over the last two seasons.

He is controllable for the next four years and would provide the Nationals a fifth solid arm for next year's rotation. Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gonzalez, John Lannan and Chien-Ming Wang would in all likelihood comprise a playoff rotation. 

Who would the Nationals be willing to give up for Gio Ganzalez? Certainly the Athletics would want to replace Gonzalez in the rotation, and Ross Detwiler would fit the bill. They'd need to throw in another starter, someone like Tommy Milone, Daniel Rosenbaum or Brian Peacock (probably Peacock). Catcher Derek Norris would certainly make sense, and adding Roger Bernadina as one of those change-of-scenery-might-help players might sweeten the deal.

This time last year, the Nationals had completed a 4-for-1 trade for then Royals' starter Zack Greinke but it fell apart when Greinke invoked his no-trade clause and ended up in Milwaukee.

But the team wasn't close enough to contention at that time and adding Greinke at the cost of the team's future made no sense. But it does now. Stephen Strasburg is healthy. Danny Espinosa is a Gold Glove second baseman with power. Micahel Morse is a 30-home run power hitter.

And Wilson Ramos is a superb catcher.

Now is the time to give up prospects--especially blocked ones like Norris--and turn a good starting rotation into a great one.

Hey Mike, the time has come. Make the deal.

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