X

    Report: Gio Gonzalez Signs 1-Year, $2M Brewers Contract After Yankees Release

    Mike Chiari@mikechiariFeatured ColumnistApril 24, 2019

    FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2018, file photo, Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez throws during the first inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles. A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that left-hander Gonzalez and the New York Yankees have agreed to a minor league contract. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Monday, March 18, 2019, because the agreement had not yet been announced. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
    Matt Slocum/Associated Press

    The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly agreed to a one-year $2 million Major League contract with starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez on Wednesday with $2 million in performance bonuses, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

    The New York Yankees released Gonzalez from his minor league contract Monday after signing him in March.

    In three starts at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre this season, the 33-year-old Gonzalez went 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

    Milwaukee seems like a logical landing spot since Gonzalez pitched well for the Brewers down the stretch last season. After getting traded to Milwaukee from the Washington Nationals, the lefty went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 22 strikeouts in 25.1 innings over five starts.

    Gonzalez struggled in the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, though, as he posted a 6.00 ERA in two starts.

    Milwaukee is fourth in the National League Central at 13-12, but it is just two games behind the first-place St. Louis Cardinals.

    Inconsistency in the starting rotation is a big reason why the Brewers are not off to a better start. Aside from Zach Davies, who is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA over five starts, the Brew Crew's starters have performed poorly.

    Report: Gio Gonzalez Signs 1-Year, $2M Brewers Contract After Yankees Release
    Video Play Button
    ✨ Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content Right Arrow Icon

    Jhoulys Chacin (5.92 ERA), Brandon Woodruff (5.81 ERA), Corbin Burnes (10.70 ERA) and Freddy Peralta (7.13 ERA) are all struggling to record outs.

    In addition to being familiar with the club, Gonzalez has a strong track record over the course of his 11-year MLB career with the Oakland Athletics, Nats and Brewers. He is a two-time All-Star who owns a career record of 127-97 with a 3.69 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

    Gonzalez is also just two seasons removed from posting 15 wins and a 2.96 ERA for the Nationals in 2017.

    While Gonzalez may not be the ace Milwaukee needs, he comes at a relatively reasonable price, and he provides the Brewers with a far more reliable arm than most of the pitchers currently in their rotation.