Washington Nationals Need Gio Gonzalez To Take Big Leap Forward In 2016
By Ricky Keeler
With Leap Day Being today, the Nats rotation needs Gio Gonzalez to stay consistent for a chance to go to October
Since Leap Day is today, it’s a good time to look at players in baseball who are looking to take the next “leap” forward to help their respective teams make the postseason. With Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister no longer a part of the Washington Nationals rotation, the team will need other starters to tae their game up a bit.
Max Scherzer should remain the ace and Stephen Strasburg showed an example of dominance in the second half of the year. With Tanner Roark and Joe Ross expected to be at the back end of the rotation, this would be the time for Gio Gonzalez to be that dependable pitcher in the middle of the rotation.
More from District on Deck
- Washington Nationals Minor League Spotlight: Robert Hassell III
- Washington Nationals Tuesday Q&A
- 3 Free Agents the Nationals Should Gamble On
- A Washington Nationals Christmas Wishlist
- Washington Nationals: Is Seth Lugo Still an Option?
Last season, Gonzalez was 11-8 with a 3.79 ERA in 31 starts (175.2 innings). Even though Gonzalez’s 2.8 WAR was the third highest among Nats’ pitchers last year (behind Zimmermann and Scherzer), it was also the fourth lowest of his career and his second as a National (2.3 in 2014).
One of the problems that have plagued Gonzalez in the past has been his command. He has been in the top ten in walks in the National League in three of the last five seasons. His strikeout rate has also gone down as his 8.7 K’s per nine were the second lowest of his career (7.7 with the A’s in 2010).
More from Nationals News
- Washington Nationals Tuesday Q&A
- A Washington Nationals Christmas Wishlist
- Robots in Baseball? The Possibility of an Automated Ball/Strike System in the MLB
- Washington Nationals Re-Sign RHP Erasmo Ramirez
- Washington Nationals Sign RHP Trevor Williams
Even though his strikeout numbers have been down, Gonzalez still has the ability to get the ground ball outs when he needs them. Last season, his groundball percentage of 53.8% was sixth in the National League and the best on the Nats (according to Fangraphs).
If you look at Gonzalez’s projections on Fangraphs for this season, his 3.1 WAR would be the second highest total in his career with the Nationals. His highest WAR was 4.9 in 2012 when he went 21-8 with a 2.89 WAR (2.82 FIP), led the National League in wins, and finished third in the Cy Young voting.
Next: Desmond Signs One-Year Deal With Texas
While the Nationals don’t need Gonzalez to be a Cy Young candidate this season, they do need three strong starters at the top of the rotation if they want to make it back to the postseason. Gonzalez is heading into his age-31 season and while he still has a $12 million team option for 2017 ($500,000 buyout), he can get a good contract in the future if he works on being consistent in his first year playing for new manager Dusty Baker.