The Gio Gonzalez sweepstakes is reportedly over according to ESPN’s Keith Law, and that means that teams like the Kansas City Royals hoping to potentially land their ace will have to move on to another target. The Washington Nationals have reportedly landed Gonzalez for four prospects headed by the heralded pitcher Brad Peacock, and Law notes rather quickly via Twitter that Oakland should love the package they receive in return.
If the deal is true, that means that Washington secures another top flight starter to partner with Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. With three young starters under control for the next few years, the Nationals could truly become a force in the NL East given that Bryce Harper will likely hit the bigs soon to team with Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth in the batting order.
As for the Athletics, they have now dealt two of their top starters this off-season in Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez. It’s another time of retooling for the A’s and it will be difficult to stomach that loss this year while others in the division are clearly getting better.
Still Law loves the prospects involved — a list that includes Peacock, catcher Derek Norris, A.J. Cole and Todd Milone.