11
2011
What About Gio Gonzalez?
An article by Former Writers
First off, I’d like to say hello to the MetsMerized fan base. My name is Andrew Wyrich and I am a rabid Mets fan who has bled orange and blue since birth. I write a weekly Mets blog called “Meet The Mess” and I recently have joined the MMO staff to help out with Hot Stove news. I look forward to getting to meet you guys and start discussing Mets baseball over the course of the offseason. Follow me on Twitter and say hello!
—-
Earlier this month, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reported that the Oakland Athletics are currently in a state of uncertainty. Due to their uncertain future regarding a possible relocation to San Jose, the team is considering holding a fire sale that would allow them to field cheap young talent until Major League Baseball gives them an answer regarding their potential move.
Rosenthal said that the A’s are open to any trade offers for anyone on the roster, with the exception of their young second basemen Jemile Weeks. This includes two of their young starting pitchers Gio Gonzalez, a lefty, and Trevor Cahill, a righty, both of whom could fetch a significant return with the Free Agent starting pitching market as thin as it is.
The team’s reasoning, Rosenthal says, is that even if MLB does permit a move, construction of a new ballpark would take at least three years – which would mean Gonzalez would be eligible to become a free agent before the park opened.
Cahill, on the other hand, could be traded now in order to maximize his value and net the A’s prospects who would be able to christen the new park.
What does this mean for the Mets, you might ask?
This off-season, it is becoming increasingly evident that the Mets are in a state of financial disarray. The team has all but conceded from the Jose Reyes sweepstakes and even Chris Capuano seems to have priced himself out of the Mets range.
The Mets will have limited resources to spend on free agents to fill in holes in the bullpen, at second base and other positions. While the bullpen figures to be the area GM Sandy Alderson will devote most of his time and energy towards, the need for a front-end starting pitcher cannot be overlooked.
Gonzalez could be someone worth checking into. The left-hander has a 3.17 ERA over his last two seasons and has pitched 65 games over that span – averaging 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings and giving up less than a home run per game.
The hurler averaged 201 innings over the two seasons and could provide the Mets with a top of the rotation presence they desperately need.
What is also intriguing, and quite perfect for the Mets current financial situation, is Gonzalez’s arbitration eligibility. While Gonzalez is set to increase his salary, there is little doubt the Mets would prefer to either hammer out a figure or talk a long-term contract with Gonzalez rather than spending frivolously on someone from the Free Agent market.
If the Mets are serious about not “punting” the 2012 season, they will need to be creative with the limited resources they have – which means that trading could be the best option to improve the team moving forward.
Undoubtedly, Gonzalez would cost the Mets a decent amount of solid prospects. Fans on MMO have stressed that trading away parts of the farm system that the Mets have begun cultivating would be a mistake given the current state of the franchise. Names thrown around were trading the likes of Bobby Parnell, Nick Evans or others in an effort to get Gonzalez, while in reality it would likely cost the Mets much more.
A package of Parnell, Jeurys Familia and Zach Lutz coupled with someone like Daniel Murphy might be a decent starting point of conversation.
While steep, the Mets would acquire a young arm that could be a solid rock in the rotation for years to come. Gonzalez would still be around when the likes of Zach Wheeler, Matt Harvey and others ascend to the majors and suddenly two or three years down the line, the Mets could have one of the best young rotations in the majors.
While the cost might seem steep now, the future could benefit from a strong arm anchoring the staff as the prospects begin to come up. Rebuilding is not just bringing up prospects, the Mets would be wise to have a forward thinking idea such as bringing in Gonzalez.
About the Author: Former Writers
16 Comments + Add Comment
Recent Comments
- Metsie: on Collins Pulled Hefner Because He Was Excited For Him: So basically Collins pulled him because he...
- wjessereid: on Summer Clearance: Possible Trade Strategies For The Mets: I'd rather have two position players ...
- Metsie: on Lutz Is The Easy Choice To Replace Davis, But Satin Is The Right Choice: SO which is it Connor he was...
- Metsie: on Lutz Is The Easy Choice To Replace Davis, But Satin Is The Right Choice: And all you got as proof are...
- Hitman: on David Wright Believes In “The Plan”: If there is one, Duda is not...
Need Tickets To The Mets Game?
Check Out These Great MLB Links!
Photographs From Gordon Donovan
5394 Fans Follow Us On Twitter!
1269 Fans Like Us On Facebook!
2341 Fans Read Our Feed!
1702 Fans Subscribe via Daily Email!
Take a look at his home/away splits and his FIP and xFIP, i think someone will wind up overpaying for Gio.
I’m more intrigued by Cahill even though he struggled a bit in the 2nd half last year.Gio would be an upgrade but he has a little Jonathon Sanchez in him,too many walks.Cahill and Andrew Bailey would solve two holes for the Mets,maybe Sandy could work something out with his protege.I would hope he at least picks up the phone.
“A package of Parnell, Jeurys Familia and Zach Lutz coupled with someone like Daniel Murphy might be a decent starting point of conversation.”
I’d do that. I mentioned this when it was first posted about Gio, that it would take a couple nice pieces to make this happen and Murphy should be in there, barring a DWright trade. Well, I wouldn’t even let that stand in the way, really. Murph, Parnell, Familia and another would get it done. I would hope that the other could be FMart, but I’m not sure that Oakland would bite on that. So, if it was the 4 you mentioned above, I’d do that.
And even if the team is supposedly “punting” on 2012, getting Gio is not just a win now move. It is an upgrade going forward. Make it happen Sandy!
ahh, welcome to MMO, i hope you do well here… to answer your trade of “A package of Parnell, Jeurys Familia and Zach Lutz coupled with someone like Daniel Murphy might be a decent starting point of conversation.” i’d say hell to the no.. gio gonzales is not that good, and i am not sure if you know this, 4 players including one who could be a stud for a guy who is average imo is just a bad desicion, but i am not worry about it, with sandy here there’s no need to worry about improving the team.. also, it seems you’re all in for having wheeler in the rotation, why not suggest a trade starting with wheeler?? maybe we can get gio for wheeler and someone else right?!!?
I aree with you about Gio,he’s a walk machine.If you replace Familia with Mejia then I would think about it but I would ask for the closer Baley too,and the reason why Wheelers name is not being thrown out is because he’s rated our top prospect and fans don’t wanna give up their top prospect.C’mon Alex you know better than that or are yo jsut playing devils advocate???
BREAKING NEWS: https://twitter.com/#!/SedanoShow/status/134800463710265346
Got another source? He posted that 13 hours ago and no one else (Gammons, Olney, MLB Trade Rumors etc) is talking about it.
I just saw this too Alex,it’s hard for me to believe he would take the 1st offer he receives.His agent will convince him to field other offers 1st and get Miami if that’s where he wants to go to increase their 1st offer.Hang in there man he ain’t gone yet.
joe diaz, is hard man, as a mets fans i’ve endure departures of great mets for crap, seaver, gooden, straw, cone, beltran amongst others.. is tough man..
“as a mets fans i’ve endure departures of great mets for crap, seaver, gooden, straw, cone, beltran amongst others.. ”
You don’t think putting Beltran in a group of homegrown Mets who left is a little overboard?
You like Breaking News, well breaking news: Beltran would have left the Mets the day the World Series in 2011 ended.
Everybody knew that from day 1, you had 7 years to prepare for it.
you know how sometimes you try to be smarter than everyone but backfire in your as-s…?? this is one of those many times it happens, you called out beltran for being a FA and not homegrown, well, last i checked, wasn’t david cone a royal before being a met!?!? yet you needed to just rain on beltran parade to defend your boy sandy, news for you, i said players that have left the org for crap!!!!
meaning, either through FA or as a trade…
alex: what inthe world are you talking about? David Cone? What does he have to do with anything?
You wrote a list of 3 homegrown players and Beltran. One of those players doesn’t belong on the list, and the fact is Beltran SETTLED to play for the Mets.
If you didn’t know after the entire knee surgery news debacle that Carlos Beltran would not be a Met on Opening Day 2012, then you wear the prettiest rose colored glasses in the world. You should have been prepared for him to not be a Met for several years.
Totally different than homegrown guys being traded, or testing positive for drugs/getting suspended.
I guess Straw is the best comparison to Reyes. Beltran certainly is not though
I hear you.I was 12 when Seaver when Seaver was traded and I cried when they announced on TV when he was pitching his last game in Houston.Straw hurt too and like Reyes if he ends up leaving it was after a career year.Straw nearly carried us to the playoffs all by himself.I knew Goodens time was up when he got suspended and I’m still pissed at the Cone trade,Harazin decided to have a firesale.Beltran I kinda knew he was a goner so I wasn’t bitter but I still hated seeing him in a Giant uniform. Beltran was the most unappreciated Met.
I’m not fascinated by either Cahill or Gonzalez. They leave a lot to be desired for me and both seem to have Pelfrey-like problems under pressure. Cahill seems a notch better than Gee? Maybe? Not sure I’d give up the farm for that. Gonzalez? Well we just haven’t seen enough of what he can do and in that regard we have someone like that in Niese. Neither of these two are top of the rotation starters except for low market teams.
I don’t know how I feel. I do love watching them both pitch, and Cahill in 2010 was awesome.
The one thing about Cahill is he is only 23, that’s 2 years younger than Dillon Gee which is pretty significant considering Cahill finished in Top 10 of cy Young in 2010.
They both have control issues, Gio is a better strikeout pitcher.
My main concern is with the new fences etc, we have no clue how Citi will play. None.
I think overall I’d like Cahill more mostly due to age and potential, I feel like you can slot Cahill into #3 and be just fine behind Niese. You can interchange them based on L/R.
Whereas with Gio he HAS to be a solid #2. He’s 26 years old, and likely will be what he has shown us.
It’s an interesting scenario and my thought is most teams would be hot and heavy over Gio which could leave the door open to swoop in for Cahill
Im confused how the heck is wheeler or harvey off limits in a gio or cahill deal. Beane would be dumb not to ask for either. Parnall A’s have a deep bullpen doubt theyd want him. Familia or Mejia dont seem like pitchers A’s would target. Murphy, where does he fit in? A’s have barton, carter, kila, allen among their 1b options and scott sizemore at 3b. I dont see a trade matching up since A’s will be locking for top tier hitting prospects as the centerpiece. I see marlins as a better fit who could center a deal around logan morrison