TAMPA — Gio Gonzalez has a career record of 127-97, a reputation of being healthy, throws with his left arm, is 33 years old and has averaged 31 starts across the last nine seasons.
So why was the Yankees’ minor league offer that has a $3 million price tag if he pitches in the majors this season the only concrete deal the free agent received?
“They gave me something I couldn’t turn down,’’ Gonzalez said at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday. “I am grateful. This is a pretty great opportunity.’’
With staff ace Luis Severino opening the season on the injured list and CC Sabathia either on the shelf or serving a five-game suspension, the Yankees have two openings in their rotation. Monday they contacted Gonzalez’s camp and agreed to a deal. Tuesday, Gonzalez passed a physical, and Wednesday he worked out while the club played on Florida’s East Coast.
Thanks to agent Scott Boras setting up workouts at the University of Miami and St. Thomas Aquinas High School in South Florida, Gonzalez believes he is ready to contribute immediately. Monday, he threw 82 pitches in a simulated game, and he is scheduled to throw in a bullpen Thursday.
“I really can’t play the manager right now,’’ Gonzalez said when asked if he would be ready to pitch during the first turn through the rotation that will start with Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton and J.A. Happ versus the Orioles in The Bronx. “But as far as how I feel, I feel great. I will be ready to go.’’
Gonzalez has an April 20 out in his contract, but it doesn’t sound like it will come down to the wire before he surfaces in the big leagues.
“I would be ready to start, period,’’ Gonzalez said. “What I see from the young guys, they are fantastic. I just want the opportunity to play.’’
Three million dollars isn’t ashtray money even for the Mike Trouts, Bryce Harpers and Giancarlo Stantons of the baseball universe. However, it represents a significant cut from the $12 million Gonzalez made in each of the past three seasons.
So why were the Yankees “pretty much’’ the only team to offer him any type of deal?
“Got to keep performing, do what you are doing,’’ Gonzalez said. “I am just grateful I am playing in an organization that sees something in me. It’s pretty much the only organization that saw something in me.’’
With Luis Cessa, Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga competing for the final two rotation spots, Gonzalez has company, but he has far more experience than the three combined.
“I’d hate to say no chance, but we got to see what we have,’’ Yankees manager Aaron Boone said when asked if Gonzalez had any chance to be on the Opening Day roster.
“Now [Wednesday] and [Thursday], especially with [pitching coach] Larry [Rothschild] staying (in Tampa), he’ll get a chance to try and get a read on exactly where he’s at, and then we’ll kind of start to put a plan in place and get a look at it.”
Asked to explain the difference between going 7-11 with a 4.57 ERA in 27 starts for the Nationals and posting a 3-0 mark with a 2.12 in five starts after being dealt to the Brewers, Gonzalez praised former Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson, who now works for the Reds.
“Absolutely, the pitching coach was incredible. Hats off to DJ, he was great and worked his tail off. He gave me some point of views and tweaked my mechanics,’’ said Gonzalez, who was tutored by Derek Lilliquist with the Nationals.
“Plus, the clubhouse, the guys, the atmosphere, it was a change of scenery. We were playing for something, and situations and circumstances change, and it was probably for the best.’’
— Additional reporting by Joel Sherman
