According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez has officially opted out of his deal with the New York Yankees after the team didn’t promote him to the major league team.
Gonzalez, 33, has been connected to the Mets in the past and as recently as this winter.
The longtime National has had well documented success at Citi Field, and with the team struggling on the pitching front, signing him could inject some life into the staff.
Original post – April 20, 10:24 a.m.
According to Sweeny Murti of WFAN, veteran starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez will be exercising his opt-out clause with the New York Yankees on Saturday. The Yankees will now have a decision to make in the next 48 hours as to whether or not to add him to their major league roster or grant him his release.
Gonzalez was 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA through his three minor league starts in the Yankees system. After struggling in his first start surrendering 8 runs, the lefty has only given up two over his previous two starts.
It was first reported on Friday night that the Mets would be scouting Gonzalez’s fourth start in Buffalo, but the game was postponed due to weather. Despite opting out, he will still make his start tonight.
With the level of seriousness still unknown on Jacob deGrom‘s elbow with his MRI scheduled for Monday, he will most likely miss his next two starts due to the fact that he was placed on the 10-day I.L. Gonzalez could be a candidate to come in and be inserted into the Mets rotation as a temporary filler in deGrom’s absence.
If deGrom’s elbow checks out OK and he returns to the team in nine days, Gonzalez could potentially replace the struggling Jason Vargas, who failed to go five innings for the second straight start last night.
Not only would picking up Gonzalez be a cheap and viable option, but the team wouldn’t have to break the bank and overpay for a Dallas Keuchel. This move makes even more sense after Gonzalez recently just left agent Scott Boras for the CAA agency, where Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen used to be employed prior to this season.
While it is still too early to hit the panic button on deGrom, the Mets need to make a move to bring in a starting pitcher to their struggling rotation. Gio could buy the Mets some time if deGrom were only to miss his next few starts.
If deGrom winds up needing surgery, the Mets still have the chance to save their season, but they’ll have to pony up and add both Gio and Keuchel to salvage their rotation without their true ace.
