sportsjabber.net

Gio Gonzalez is only 26-years-old, considered one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game, and yet in 2012, he will be pitching for his fourth organization in six years. That’s amazing to me.

Gonzalez was traded today to the Washington Nationals for four minor league prospects. RHP Robert Gilliam also went to the Nationals. In return, the Oakland A’s will receive RHP A.J. Cole, lhp Tommy Milone, RHP Brad Peacock, C Derek Norris.

Did the Nationals give up a lot here? Sure they did, but give them credit. GM Mike Rizzo realized that this franchise isn’t going to go anywhere without starting pitching and now they have Gonzalez, Stephen Strasburg, and JorDon Zimmermann locked up for at least the next four years. That’s a very impressive foundation to build off of.

Gonzalez has really come into his own the past two seasons. In the past two seasons, Gonzalez has a 3.17 ERA, 8.2 K/9, 4.1 BB/9, and a 6.7 WAR in 402.2 innings. His 6.7 WAR over the past two seasons is higher than Matt Garza‘s, Tim Hudson‘s, and Josh Beckett‘s.

http://www.thebaseballindex.com/2011/12/22/gio-gonzalez-on-the-move-again-headed-to-washington/