UPDATE: The White Sox have signed Gio Gonzalez to a one-year, $5 million contract, which includes a club option for 2021. Gonzalez will receive $4.5 million in 2020, while the White Sox hold a $7 million for 2021 with a $500,000 buyout.
White Sox GM Rick Hahn had this to say about the signing, per a press release: “We view Gio as an important addition to our pitching staff. He brings an impressive resume to our club as a veteran left-hander who has enjoyed success and should have a positive impact on our younger pitchers in terms of competing, battling and helping us win games at the major league level.”
A day after signing Ross Detwiler to a minor league deal, the White Sox have added another starting pitcher. Left-handed veteran Gio Gonzalez is reportedly in agreement with the team, according to The Athletic’s Robert Murray and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
Gio now has agreement on deal with White Sox. Good work by @ByRobertMurray https://t.co/JYLxnMpWkp
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 19, 2019
Gonzalez spent the 2019 season with the Milwaukee Brewers where he started 17 games for the team. Over the course of the season, he went 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA, 78 strikeouts, 37 walks, 1.294 WHIP, 4.04 FIP, and 1.7 WAR in just 87.1 innings pitched. He owns a career 3.68 ERA in 12 years of Major League experience, previously with the Nationals and Athletics before Milwaukee. The White Sox drafted Gonzalez in the first round of the 2004 MLB Draft before sending him to Oakland as part of the Nick Swisher trade back in 2008.
Fans should not panic as this move likely is not the final answer to the hole that exists in the rotation. Rather, this addition brings a decent arm into the starting pitcher mix while still leaving room for another. As of right now, Gio Gonzalez will likely be taking the mound along with Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease, and Michael Kopech every fifth day. Again, this is pending any further significant moves that may happen this winter.
Prior to the announcement of the Gonzalez deal, the White Sox also inked former Royals infielder Cheslor Cuthbert to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training. Cuthbert slashed .246/.294/.379 with 9 home runs and 40 RBI in 2019.
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Featured Photo: Milwaukee Brewers/Twitter
