Gio Gonzalez to Yankees - 1 year/$3M (minor league deal)

[reillymcshane]

Gio Gonzalez finally finds a home with the Yankees. Surprisingly, only a minor league deal. He gets $3M, plus 300k for every game he starts, which is not insignificant. If he makes 30 starts, that's $9M extra. Still has to make the team, which shouldn't be an issue barring injury.

 

Thought for sure Gio would get a better deal than this.

[djoctagone]

Surprisingly, only a minor league deal.

with major league spring training about to end, how else would you expect him to get ready for the season?

 

14 march was a notable date, as it was 10 days before opening day. any player who finished 2018 on a 40-man roster or 60-day disabled list signed before that date to a minor league contract would be automatically entitled to a late march opt-out if not placed on the 25-man roster or paid a $100,000 retention bonus.

 

now, after 14 march, it's whatever opt-out date the player can negotiate.

 

i imagine this is why the players union was against roster expansion to start the season instead of finishing it. doing so would allow clubs to open with fringe 40-man guys who would normally be optioned, and then sign veterans to minor league deals, and hold eventual spots for them that normally open up at the end of spring training or the beginning of the season (i.e. the brewers will likely be outrighting a catcher and putting bobby wahl on the 60-day injured list).

[JosephC]

I think this is a great deal for Gonzalez and a pretty nice score for Boras. I'm assuming that Gonzalez will not start the season with the Yankees, although it's possible if he's done the "full spring training" routine at the Boras "complex" in California. But even if it takes him a month from now to get ready, between Severino's shoulder, Sabbathia and Tanaka's health issues...I'd bet that Gonzalez is nearly a lock to get 25+ starts unless he gets injured. Gray was not good last year and he still got 23 starts for the Yankees. The Yankees have been talking about Loaisiga, German and Cessa, but all those guys had MLB ERAs over 5 last year (Loaisiga only threw 24 2/3 innings, so a smaller sample size for him). Gonzalez gets 25 starts and that's 10.5 million for the year, and I like his chances to get that number of starts.

 

I was kind of disappointed that the Brewers didn't try to land Gonzalez, give him a major league deal and some decent money (4 million guaranteed) and try to convince him to move to a swing-man role. But if I'm Gonzalez and Boras, I'd take this Yankee deal all day over a 4 million guaranteed deal. There is the potential to make way more with the Yankees. Always a chance he gets hurt, but if he's healthy now then the Yankee deal is a hard one to refuse.

[wntrtxn21]

Gio Gonzalez finally finds a home with the Yankees. Surprisingly, only a minor league deal. He gets $3M, plus 300k for every game he starts, which is not insignificant. If he makes 30 starts, that's $9M extra. Still has to make the team, which shouldn't be an issue barring injury.

 

Thought for sure Gio would get a better deal than this.

 

I was too surprised Gio didn't get a better deal. I thought the Crew might re-sign him, but if Severino or Sabathia are hurt worse than the Yankees think, Gio could make quite a bit more than the Brewers were offering.

[djoctagone]

gio gonzalez making news. he's fired scott boras and his opt-out with the yankees is today. he's likely going to request a promotion to the major league roster or to be released. the yankees have 48 hours to respond.

[JosephC]

Too bad he has that clause in his contract that specifies 300k per start. That might be too much for the Brewers to handle, especially when it looks like they probably will need to make another move or two closer to the deadline. If it wasn't for that, I'd be all for Stearns making the Yankees a modest trade offer to put Gio in a Brewers uniform and keep him off the market as there really should be at least a couple other teams interested. It will be interesting to see what happens. Have to think Gonzalez would project as a high 3's/low 4's ERA/FIP type performer and while that's not spectacular, it would definitely represent a big upgrade for Milwaukee based on what we've seen so far.

 

If I were the Yankees, I just might pull the surprise move and shuffle some younger pitchers around to get Gonzalez on the 25-man roster. Severino currently KO'ed and I just do not trust the health of Tanaka and Sabathia at all. Paxton has hardly been the model of durability over his career. Yankees let Gonzalez slip away now and they might be regretting later on.

[MadScientist]

That 300K/start is meaningless if he is granted his release. Any contract he signs is a clean slate.

[Thurston Fluff]

I wouldn't give up anything for him at this point. If the Brewers have interest in him now he'll be available in a couple days. He isn't the type of guy I'd worry too much about losing if he chooses another team. But why would he? He's know the team a little and would be coming into about as good a situation as he could hope for.

[willjski23]

He opted out.. think Brewers will bring him back?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

He opted out.. think Brewers will bring him back?

 

Given the familiarity and the Brewers' need for a steady influence in the rotation (not to mention a lefty), I'd say yep.

[djoctagone]

the yankees have released gonzalez. he's a free agent.

[Mustang_51D]

I hope they don't miss the opportunity and jump on him as soon as they can! Otherwise, Gio's going to get grabbed by another team, and the Brewers will have a hard time finding someone as good.

[Brew crew 92]

I hope they don't miss the opportunity and jump on him as soon as they can! Otherwise, Gio's going to get grabbed by another team, and the Brewers will have a hard time finding someone as good.

 

Time will tell, but I think the front office believes in our starting staff more than most here, and they believe moving forward, With Nelson’s imminent return, Anderson showing the stuff of 2017, and the probable improvement of a young gun or two, that they don’t need another depth starting pitcher.

[Roderick]

I hope they don't miss the opportunity and jump on him as soon as they can! Otherwise, Gio's going to get grabbed by another team, and the Brewers will have a hard time finding someone as good.

 

Time will tell, but I think the front office believes in our starting staff more than most here, and they believe moving forward, With Nelson’s imminent return, Anderson showing the stuff of 2017, and the probable improvement of a young gun or two, that they don’t need another depth starting pitcher.

 

If he is fine with being in the bullpen (at least to begin with), I would sign him. He provides starter backup plan. You wouldn't lose a shuttle spot if you are cutting Albers.

[xisxisxis]

The Brewers need more pitchers, they have way too many throwers in the current staff. We've pretty much had 80% of our starters putting up 4-5 Runs and 5 IP. He couldn't be any worse...

[Thurston Fluff]

The Brewers need more pitchers, they have way too many throwers in the current staff. We've pretty much had 80% of our starters putting up 4-5 Runs and 5 IP. He couldn't be any worse...

 

Never challenge worse.