It's official: Gio Gonzalez joins White Sox's rotation

Word leaked on Thursday, and the White Sox made it official on Friday.

Gio Gonzalez is in the fold, and the veteran left-handed starter agreed to a $4.5 million contract for 2020. The Sox hold a $7 million option for 2021, with a $500,00 buyout.

While he's never pitched a game for the White Sox, Gonzalez is well known in the organization.

He was the Sox's first-round draft choice in 2004 (No. 38 overall), but was traded with Aaron Rowand to the Phillies for Jim Thome a year later.

In 2006, Philadelphia traded Gonzalez back to the White Sox with Gavin Floyd in the Freddy Garcia deal.

Before the '08 season, the Sox sent Gonzalez to the Athletics as part of a trade package for Nick Swisher.

The 34-year-old Gonzalez was 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) with Milwaukee last season after signing as a free agent on April 27. He helped the Brewers get into the playoffs with a strong showing in September (1-0, 1.17 ERA).

"We view Gio as an important addition to our pitching staff," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. "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."

Gonzalez is a lifetime 130-99 with a 3.68 ERA over 11 major-league seasons with Oakland (2008-11), Washington (2012-18) and Milwaukee (2018-19). His best year was in 2012 with the Nationals, when he was 21-8 with a 2.87 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 199⅓ innings.