The Arizona Diamondbacks went to the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas with a pretty short shopping list: One veteran starting pitcher. A couple of names (Mark Buehrle and Hiroki Kuroda) have popped up before and the D-backs already made an offer to Joe Saunders. Now a new name has entered the mix, Oakland A's All-Star lefty, Gio Gonzalez.
The A's are said to be holding a fire sale and Gonzalez, 26 and arb 1 eligible, is apparently being shopped.
Gonzalez hottest lefty - MLB News | FOX Sports on MSN
No, the lefty generating the most attention is the Athletics’ Gio Gonzalez, who is attracting trade interest from nearly a dozen teams, major league sources say. The Tigers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Reds and Phillies are the known suitors for Gonzalez, according to sources.
It's possible that cost is a factor here with vets like Saunders, Buehrle and Kuroda likely commanding upwards of $8m or more on a yearly basis while a younger guy like Gio could be had for less via arbitration or extension.
It would, however, cost Kevin Towers some trade assets to pry him away from the A's with so many other teams interested. The D-backs have a lot of depth in their farm system and could offer any number of young pitchers who are not as ready to contribute as guy like Gio.
Gonzalez won 16 games with a pretty poor (74-88) A's team last season and pitched a 3.12 ERA in 202 innings. In 2010 he went 200 innings with a 3.23 ERA. The biggest concern is walks: He recorded 92 in 2010 and 91 in 2011 which was the most in the American League.
MLB Winter Meetings are all about rumors and many don't happen but this one certainly is interesting for the D-backs and seems legit:
Twitter / @BNightengale: Arizona #Dbacks pushing ha ...
Arizona #Dbacks pushing hard with #Athletics trying to get Gio Gonzale
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