Gio Gonzalez Rumors: Will Detroit Tigers Deal the Farm for Oakland A's Ace?

Ever since the commencement of the 2011-12 MLB Winter Meetings, Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez has made headlines for being on the trade market. Needless to say, the Detroit Tigers are quite interested.

With higher-priced pitchers Mark Buehrle and C.J. Wilson off the market, Gonzalez is now the top pitching option available to the Tigers, save the upcoming Yu Darvish auction extravaganza. Yet, Gonzalez is not going to come cheap—at all.

According to reports, Athletics general manager Billy Beane wants at least two high-profile prospects. It is asking for a lot of potential in return for one of the most consistent pitchers of the last two years. But still, prospects are merely prospects; they very well could be the next Albert Pujols, or the next Eric Munson.

Should the Tigers proceed with chasing the 16-game winner who sported a 3.12 ERA and 197 Ks? His numbers show he possesses the skills, but can he develop the consistency to be a solid No. 2 pitcher in the Tigers' rotation for years to come?

We will examine the potential prospects that the Tigers could ship to Oakland, and reasons as to why the Tigers should acquire Gio Gonzalez and why they should not.

The Pitching Market

The market of available starting pitchers is small. The market for consistent and established starting pitchers is even smaller. 

The American League considerably strengthened itself thanks to the ridiculous and unprecedented signings by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

C.J. Wilson is gone. Mark Buehrle is gone. Yu Darvish is going to be sold to the highest of bidders. Gio Gonzalez remains.

It is not that the Tigers were too slow to pick up Buehrle or Wilson—the brass simply did not want them. Considering the way the American League is shaping up, the Tigers now need to make a move in order to remain competitive, and Gonzalez just might be that move.

The AL Central itself did not get much tougher, and receiving a pitcher like Gonzalez only reinforces the Tigers as favorites to repeat as AL Central champions.

But are the Tigers that willing to dish out prospects for Gonzalez? Beane already stated that he is enthralled with Jacob Turner, the Tigers top pitching prospect. Included in the Gonzalez package could very well be Tigers' top fielding prospect Nick Castellanos, as well as another player.

Jacob Turner

Tigers prospect Jacob Turner is definitely the top Tigers pitching prospect. After having appeared last year in limited playing time, Turner is on pace to be the Tigers' fifth starter in the rotation. Yet, he is also the key piece, the "x-factor," of the Gio Gonzalez trade.

Projected to be a front-end of the rotation starter in the near future, Turner would most likely receive immediate star treatment in Oakland, as he would most definitely be inserted into the starting rotation for the Athletics.

Yet, the Athletics have been adamant that they receive not one, but two high-profile prospects in return for Gonzalez.

The first potential trade package for Gonzalez is as follows: Turner, Drew Smyly and top prospect Nick Castellanos.

The Athletics would receive Turner, an MLB-ready starter, a good prospect in Smyly, who could be a solid bullpen man, and Castellanos, who is predicted as the Tigers starting third baseman withing the next two years.

Yet, it still seems like too much to give up for Gonzalez, so other options need to be reviewed. 

Nick Castellanos

Instead of featuring Turner, the Tigers could use Castellanos as the highlight of the deal. He is a very highly touted prospect, who is often thought of as the long-term solution for the Tigers third base woes. Although he is still several years away from being big-league material, he is one of the most marketable prospects around.

The Tigers could feature a trade for Gio Gonzalez in return for Castellanos, Drew Smyly and possibly Tigers left fielder Delmon Young.

Executing a trade set up like this would definitely kill two birds with one stone. They would receive a top of the rotation pitcher and be able to keep Turner, who could also be the fifth Tigers starter.

This trade would most likely be the last-resort option for Detroit.

Brennan Boesch

Left fielder Brennan Boesch is someone I'm sure Dave Dombrowski does not want to part ways with. If the Tigers choose not to feature Castellanos, Boesch could bring intrigue to a deal.

The Tigers are very interested in keeping Castellanos, whom they believe could be the long-term answer at third base for Detroit for years to come.

Therefore, in order to get Gonzalez, the A's will still demand a young, power player, like Boesch, to be included in a deal.

Boesch is young, mainly unproven and could add a lot of zest to the deal. Boesch is someone Billy Beane would love to have, and Dave Dombrowski would unload Boesch if given the chance.

A package featuring both Turner and Boesch, as well as Smyly, could definitely be a viable package option for Oakland. 

Regardless of the trade package, the Tigers will have to give up at least two young guns, whether it be Turner, Castellanos or Boesch.

Why the Tigers Should Trade for Gonzalez

The Tigers would love to add more depth to an already skilled rotation that features AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander.

As of right now, the Tigers starting rotation is as follows: Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Rick Porcello and Turner.

Despite a strong looking rotation, it could be a lot deeper with Gonzalez in the fray. Detroit fans already know what Verlander can bring to the table, while Fister proved to be one of the most invaluable pickups concocted by general manager Dave Dombrowski.

Scherzer can be a dominant pitcher when he chooses to be, but is too inconsistent to be a career No. 2 pitcher. This is when Gio Gonzalez steps in.

The Tigers should trade for Gonzalez because they need someone to dominate and win games following a Justin Verlander start. Gonzalez starting behind Verlander is the equivalent of Victor Martinez hitting behind Miguel Cabrera.

Tigers fans know how well Victor Martinez played last season. Expect that from Gonzalez if he is shipped to Detroit.

Why the Tigers Shouldn't Trade for Gonzalez

The truth is, Gonzalez isn't coming cheap. Yes, prospects are only prospects, but is giving up on a Jacob Turner-type really worth it? I mean really, what if Gonzalez flames out and the trade is a complete bust? Is that a chance that the Tigers are willing to take?

It is very difficult to tell whether prospects will pan out or flame out; they're called prospects for a reason.

So, the real question that resides for the Tigers is this: Will Jacob Turner and Nick Castellanos become better baseball players than Gio Gonzalez?

The Tigers have the players to acquire Gonzalez, and the Tigers have the one player that the Athletics want—Jacob Turner. But is it really worth giving up a potential bright future for the traditional "let's win now" approach.

Trades such as these are always crapshoots. You have to bet big to win big, or stay home and be content with that you already have. 

Are the Tigers happy with Turner, a fifth starter as of now, and Castellanos, who won't see a single MLB inning until at least 2013? Or are the Tigers salivating over Gonzalez and ready to pull the trade trigger as soon as possible?

What the Tigers Will Do: The Trade

When it comes down to executing the trade itself, who are the Tigers really going to ship away to Oakland?

The Tigers seem to be the front-runners for Gonzalez. It seems as if Dombrowski is willing to part ways with Turner but not with Castellanos.

If and when the trade occurs, I as well as many, believe the trade will include both Turner and Boesch. The Athletics have asserted that if the Tigers were to receive Gonzalez, Turner must be included in the deal.

Castellanos shouldn't be included in the deal, considering the third base woes that the Tigers have experienced within the past few years. Castellanos' skills have to be honed in order for a long-term third base solution.

This is what the trade will be constructed of: the Athletics would receive Turner and Boesch in exchange for Gio Gonzalez.

Although the Tigers have already sold the farm once before, when they acquired Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle "the Bust" Willis, it seems as if Dombrowski is ready to do that again, this time, for only one pitcher.

Is Gonzalez that good and that worth it to sell a top pitching prospect and an established but unproven big leaguer in Boesch?

Trade Winner: Detroit or Oakland?

Come June and July, the dog days of summer, it should be about time that fans and critics alike can develop their full opinions on whether the Tigers actually benefited from the Gonzalez acquisition.

Will he be the All-Star caliber pitcher he was just one year removed? Or will the prospects given to Oakland, such as Turner and Boesch, outweigh Gonzalez's performance in a Tigers uniform?

If this trade between Oakland and Detroit is executed, I fully expect Gonzalez to pitch as well as he did last season, if not, outperform himself from the previous few seasons.

Gonzalez, if in a Tigers uni, will be expected to provide an All-Star caliber season and help anchor the Tigers' rotation all the way to the postseason en route to their second consecutive division championship.

As for Oakland, it will be the beneficiary of a youth movement. Turner and Boesch will both be starters for the A's and will no doubt be key players for the organization. 

Yet, i find it difficult to predict that the A's will actually improve as a result of the trade. It may take several years to develop both Boesch and Turner to the players that Oakland hopes they can be.

The winner of the Gio Gonzalez trade?

For the time being, the Detroit Tigers are the Gonzalez trade winners.