8:00am: Gonzalez will earn $1MM if he makes the big league club, Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports (via Twitter).
7:25am: The Marlins have agreed to a minor league pact with veteran left-hander Gio Gonzalez, reports Craig Mish of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). The CAA client will head to Major League camp as a non-roster invitee.
It’s a homecoming for Gonzalez, a Miami area native who has spent more than a decade in the Majors since being drafted by the White Sox with the No. 38 overall pick back in 2004. Gonzalez was traded three times before making his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2008 but returned to the White Sox last offseason on a Major League deal and spent the shortened 2020 with his original organization.
The results were mixed, at best. Gonzalez was signed with the expectation that he could hold down the fifth spot in the rotation, but he made just four starts and eight relief appearances while posting a 4.83 ERA with his highest walk rate (12.4 percent) since 2009.
That was also the only truly sub-par season for Gonzalez since 2009, however. After breaking out with the 2010 A’s and making his first All-Star team in 2011, Gonzalez was traded to the Nationals and spent the next seven years as a rock-solid member of their rotation. He continued that steady production in a year-and-a-half stint with the Brewers from 2018-19 before signing in Milwaukee.
In that decade-long peak, the now-35-year-old Gonzalez racked up 1786 2/3 innings of 3.49 ERA ball (3.99 SIERA) with an above-average 47.3 percent grounder rate, a quality 22.5 percent strikeout rate and a 9.6 percent walk rate. Even though he was limited to 17 starts in 2019 due to some arm troubles, Gonzalez still averaged 30 starts and 179 innings per season during that time. And from 2010-18, his only injuries were a two-week IL stint for shoulder soreness in 2014 and a postseason high ankle sprain in 2018.
The Marlins have plenty of young pitching talent, but much of it is unproven, which gives Gonzalez a chance to win a rotation spot out of the gates. Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez are clearly locked into places. Over the offseason, manager Don Mattingly suggested that to be true of righty Elieser Hernandez back in October as well. However, he was less committal when asked if top prospect Sixto Sanchez, who impressed in seven starts during his 2020 debut, would also be guaranteed a spot.
Even if that is indeed the top four the Marlins carry early in the year, the fifth spot is largely up for grabs. Lefties Trevor Rogers and Braxton Garrett both made their debuts in 2020, as did right-handers Nick Neidert, Jorge Guzman and Jordan Holloway (though the latter two only pitched a combined 1 1/3 Major League innings). Righty Edward Cabrera has been slowed in camp by nerve issue in his right biceps thus far (Twitter link via MLB.com’s Christina De Nicola), so he’s probably not in the Opening Day mix.
Mjm117
Surprising but vet leadership is always good and especially for the Fish young studs
FredMcGriff for the HOF
I’m not really sure what more Sixto needs to prove to Mattingly. Service time manipulation?
Rsox
Sixto, Alcantara, and Lopez are probably set. Gio is competition for Trevor Rogers, Elieser Hernandez, Daniel Castano, Braxton Garrett, and Humberto Mejia for the 4th/5th spots.
DarkSide830
Mejia was traded to Arizona
DarkSide830
that’s probably just Mattingly putting some pressure on Sixto to keep him performing. seems like a Mattingly thing to do.
MarlinsFanBase
We needed a veteran pitcher to help spread the innings out over the course of a 162-game season. With Covid and us having a young pitching staff, we need to make sure that our kids are okay for a whole season. I think the Marlins will be operating with a 7 to 9 man staring pitching staff. You can’t run up those innings for these young arms, especially after a short seasoned season last year.
I wanted Anibal Sanchez, but Gonzalez will do.
Steve Adams
The Marlins would need to keep Sanchez in the minors for four months to delay his free agency another year at this point. That’s not happening.
As Darkside also suggested, I’d imagine it’s just a manager keeping a prospect motivated. And really, if Sixto bombs in Spring Training, it wouldn’t be crazy to send him down for a bit to make sure he’s on track. He was hit pretty hard in three of his final four starts (playoffs included).
MarlinsFanBase
Yeah, that’s very possible. And yes, he was hit hard because teams adjusted to timing his fastball. If he goes back down, it certainly will be to work on his secondary pitches and their utilization since he needs to adjust to those adjustments that were made against him.
Overall though, I think this is mainly about trying to keep those young arm innings down. We definitely need that because I don’t feel comfortable trying to have our young arms all trying to pitch over 150 innings. Alcantara, Lopez, and Elieser certainly should be there at this point, but the rest would be a gamble. Let Gio make up the difference.
rockofloveusa
lol your funny .
you think that mainly about trying to keep those young arm innings down.
you did not watch marlins last year.. don did not let them go past 5 to 6 inning. than late in season he wanted them to go 7 to 8.. blow up .
their no we in it .. you dont speak for MarlinsFanBase.. jeter / yankees than marlins fan with that logo
MarlinsFanBase
Um, I’ve been a Marlins fan since Day 1, junior. I’ve watched nearly every game of the Marlins for the last 28 years. I went to this logo when I started on this website, and like many Marlins fans, embraced this logo to move past Loria’s monstrosity, all the while respecting the classic logo and the teal helmets which I actually still keep.
With the arms, I’m speaking more to that based on baseball experience and years of watching the game. When you use up young arms like that so early in their career, the shelf life is short. And at the same time, the Marlins have been very protective of their players. When Alcantara and Lopez had certain health difficulties a couple of times prior to 2020, the Marlins have taken extra precautions with their pitchers because the plan is sustainable success in the long term. As for what was done last year, it was a short season so you can let them go further because the inning totals were going to be low no matter what. And the playoff starts were bonus time to get their pitchers playoff experience for the future when the Marlins are a legit contender in a full season. Also, Alcantara and Lopez have a little more development than the rest, so they can be expected to go more innings.. Gio is an arm that, if he can still cut it at the MLB level, can take away the innings load that will be needed for a 162-game season, which is far different that last year’s 60-game season.
And a bit of an FYI, I actually did not like Jeter during his playing days and enjoyed beating him in 2003. As a Heat fan too, I also didn’t like Michael Jordan. However, when they became owners of our team, I had to accept them. When I saw that they wanted to build a culture, and MJ kind of led their interactions with the Heat about taking some of the aspects of that Heat Culture, I was sold on them.
Know your stuff before you talk, dimwit.
geg42
Comeback player of the year candidate
HalfBaked McBride
I was SO EXCITED when he landed with the Phils in 2006….part of the Jim Thome deal. We also got Aaron Rowand as well
and then
in classic Phillies form
They trade Gio and Gavin Floyd for Freddy Garcia…..facepalm….
Good luck in Miami, Gio
VonPurpleHayes
I was pumped for Freddy Garcia…silly me.
phillies012tg
I was so excited to have him and then just like that we didn’t…
Ducky Buckin Fent
@Von –
As a Yankee fan, I’ll always have a place in my heart for Sweaty Freddy.
DarkSide830
Reading legend
DarkSide830
not the best place to get starts
Habeto
Good depth signing! I really wanted Mike Leake, but Gio is good enough.
Wouldn’t hurt to slow down Sixto and be extra carefull with Elieser, given their recent injury history. If González makes the team and can throw around 100 Innings of 4.00ish ERA, that 1 Million would be a bargain.
99 Captain Judge
Definitely looks like the best team in Florida now. Go Marlins!!!
CubsWin108
SALTY YANKEES FAN ALERT!
99 Captain Judge
@cubswin108- I ain’t salty about nothing. My NL team is actually the Cubs. Maybe I’ll be salty about them this season? I hope not.
MetsFan22
The rays are better than the Yankees lol.
pinstripes17
The Rays aren’t even better than the Blue Jays, stop it little brother. I’d take the Rays over the Mets this year though, the Mets are always gonna Met.
99 Captain Judge
@pinstripes17- well said!!!
Ducky Buckin Fent
I dunno, @Yank4Life –
The Blue Jay’s are going to be pretty good, man. I still think they’ll add another arm or two. So I think they’ll be even a little better than they are.
& the damn Ray’s’ll somehow win ~ 90 games using maybe a half dozen players I’ve ever heard of & an army of “who?” just because.
99 Captain Judge
@DBF- I wouldn’t worry about Dunedin this season. Unless your scared of Ryu? Didn’t we have him for lunch last season? Florida’s 2nd best team has no ace. If they traded for Luis Castillo or signed Trevor Bauer then you could make an argument that the Jays could of made a run for the AL East. Like you said the other day the Yankees are better now then they were last season. The Blue Jays are a little better. Good thing they signed George Springer. He can teach this team what he does best, to cheat. The Rays will be the 3rd best team in Florida this season. No worries.
CubsWin108
Dude I can’t wait to see your reaction when the Jays win the Division and the Rays take 2nd place cause it’s the Rays and you guys either miss or get a wc due to injuries and your team being OVERRATED
CubsWin108
@Yank4Life
99 Captain Judge
@cubswin108- wow, I wish I could have whatever your smoking? You do have some imagination because that’s not going to happen. But thanks for the laugh though.
pinstripes17
you’re gonna be waiting for a while then, no chance that happens.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Yeah.
Barring some type of doomsday injury/health scenario I’ll side with Vegas.
World Series odds as of today:
Yanks – +567
Blue Jay’s – +1667
Ray’s – +2033
So.
CubsWin108
Keep writing them out… Brandon Lowe and the Rays are coming now fully loaded with amazing prospects a good MLB team and amazing matchups, coaching, and some of the best devolvement in all of Baseball.
99 Captain Judge
@cubswin108- who is going to pitch for Tampa Bay this year? They traded Snell. They didn’t re-sign Morton. Tyler Glasnow is far from an ace. Maybe Wander Franco can pitch for them this season? Lol. I doubt it. Tampa is a 3rd place team. Dunedin will be in 2nd and maybe get a Wild Card. It will be a battle for 2nd for the 2 Florida teams. No worries.
99 Captain Judge
@pinstripes17- trust me he can wait. If he’s a Cubs fan, he’s been waiting his whole life. I know, the Cubies are my favorite NL team. I feel his pain.
redsfan48
Not a Rays fan but the Rays are *easily* the best team in that division.
99 Captain Judge
@redsfan48- I couldn’t disagree with you more. But I definitely think the Reds have a shot to win the NL Central if they keep Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray. Which they really need to do. Any word on that?
MarlinsFanBase
Um, I’m a Marlins fan. The Marlins are the best team in Florida?
Did the Rays already move to Montreal?
99 Captain Judge
@MarlinsFanBase- I couldn’t agree with you more. Miami is the best team, Dunedin is the 2nd best team, and Tampa Bay is the 3rd best. The Rays can’t move to Montreal or their fans will cry, and the Blue Jays are too afraid to play in Toronto.
mike156
Gio was drafted in the same class that included Ray Culp and Dick Ellsworth…..
MarlinsFanBase
I saw them the other day. One bagged my groceries while the other was stocking shelves.
dclivejazz
Good for Gio. Hope he catches on with the Marlins and does well.
Polish Hammer
Back to Miami and near his “clinic”, so maybe he’ll find the fountain of youth and have a big comeback year.
99 Captain Judge
I hope Gio can grow his beard on the Marlins. When he signed that minor league deal with the Yankees a few years ago I didn’t even know who he was without his “signature beard”
DadsInDaniaBeach
Sixto is the real deal..n nothing he needs to prove..his last few games were an anomaly..2020 was an anomaly…
Are the Guppies going to own the Phillies again this year..It’s getting old..amazing how one team can just dominate another..maybe the Phils fear the salt air…
(^_*)