Sunday, January 15, 2012

Nationals, Gio Gonzalez agree to extension through 2016

The Washington Nationals announced via Twitter that they have agreed to a contract extension with starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez through the 2016 season.

In addition, there is a team option for the 2017 and 2018 season as well.

Gonzalez, who was acquired for four prospects last month, would have been eligible for arbitration this offseason.

In the past two seasons, Gonzalez has won 15-plus games, pitched 200-plus innings and posted a sub-3.25 ERA each year. Last season, he set career highs in wins (16) and strikeouts (197) and a career low in ERA (3.12).

Among qualified pitchers, Gonzalez ranked 11th in MLB in K/9 (8.78) last season. But only Toronto's Brandon Morrow (10.19), Seattle's (now New York's) Michael Pineda (9.11) and Detroit's Justin Verlander (8.96) had a better K/9 among A.L. starting pitchers.

That said, only Pittsburgh's James McDonald had a worse BB/9 (4.11) than Gonzalez (4.05) last year among qualified starters.

No comments:

Post a Comment