Gonzalez still waiting for chance to pitch for White Sox
Gio Gonzalez is going to finally pitch for the White Sox, right?
Now an established major league starter, Gonzalez was drafted by the Sox with the No. 38 overall pick in 2004.
He made 35 minor league starts before being traded to the Phillies in the Jim Thome deal after the 2005 season.
A little more than a year later, Philadelphia traded Gonzalez back to the White Sox. He was accompanied by Gavin Floyd in a deal that sent Freddy Garcia to the Phillies.
Gonzalez spent the 2007 season with Class AA Birmingham in the Sox's system and he pitched well enough (9-7, 3.18 ERA in 27 starts) to ... wait for it ... get traded to the Athletics.
After spending four years in Oakland, seven years in Washington and last year with Milwaukee, Gonzalez found his way back to the White Sox.
"You always want to play for the team that drafted you," Gonzalez said.
Baseball has been shut down since March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the game should be back in some form this summer. If it does return, Gonzalez will get his long-awaited crack to pitch for the Sox.
"Gio is an extremely dependable arm," general manager Rick Hahn said. "He has had a real long track record of success at the big-league level and we feel the third time's the charm with the White Sox."
On Dec. 19, Gonzalez signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract. The deal includes a $7 million club option for 2021 with a $500,000 buyout.
If baseball is never played this season and Gonzalez's option for next year is declined, he would be 0-for-3 when it comes to pitching for the Sox.
That would be the total worst-case scenario, so let's just assume COVID-19 eases its firm grip and baseball gets to play an abbreviated season in the months ahead.
In that case, Gonzalez lines up as the White Sox's No. 3 starter. He would follow Lucas Giolito and another new veteran left-hander, Dallas Keuchel.
The 34-year-old Gonzalez was 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) for Milwaukee last season after signing as a free agent April 27. He helped the Brewers get into the playoffs with a strong showing in September (1-0, 1.17 ERA).
Gonzalez is a lifetime 130-99 with a 3.68 ERA over 11 major league seasons with the A's, Nationals and Brewers. His best year was in 2012 with Washington, when he was 21-8 with a 2.87 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 199⅓ innings.
"We view Gio as an important addition to our pitching staff," Hahn said. "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."
When he reported to the Sox's training camp in mid-February, Gonzalez was dealing with left shoulder discomfort.
He wasn't able to pitch in a Cactus League game before play was halted, but Gonzalez was throwing bullpens and hoped to be ready when the season was originally scheduled to begin March 26.
He's had plenty of time to get fully healthy, so Gonzalez is now waiting like everyone else to see if there will be baseball.