Washington Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez will return next year as he activated his vesting option.For everyone, that is a good thing.
By nearly standing on the mound Tuesday and retiring one batter, Gio Gonzalez kicked in the vesting option of his Washington Nationals contract for 2018.
He reached 180 innings on the season and will be on the staff next year for a cheap $12 million. Gonzalez joins Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Tanner Roark as starters under contract for next year. Another successful campaign can make him money when he hits free agency in 2019.
The emergence of Gonzalez into a front-line starter again is one of the major storylines as the Nats romped to a second consecutive NL East title. With a 14-7 record and an opponent’s batting average of .214, he has kept hitters off-balance all year.
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His ability to pitch deep into games, along with taking the hill every fifth day, gave Washington stability this year when Scherzer and Strasburg battled injuries. Also, as Roark struggled to find his game, Gonzalez ensured no losing streak this season lasted over four games.
After several frustrating years, Gonzalez turned into bedrock.
If projections hold, this will be Gonzalez’s first 200-inning season since joining the Nats. With the Oakland Athletics, he topped 200 twice before joining Washington for his 20-win campaign in 2012. His 184.2 innings is his highest amount since 2013 while his 2.68 ERA is a career-low.
As with the countdown toward the division title, Gonzalez was certain as long as he stayed healthy. Only once in his six years in Washington has he failed to make 30 starts. You cannot get better reliability from a starter.
The front office can make a small sigh of relief as they only need to find one starter for next year and not two. With Joe Ross’ 2018 season in doubt following Tommy John surgery, the Nats have options.
They could extend an offer to the well-traveled Edwin Jackson to stay next year. In 10 starts, he has held his own with a 5-5 mark and 3.88 ERA. Although the 1.310 WHIP may scare fans off, it is lower than Roark’s 1.322.
The team may let Erick Fedde audition for the spot in Spring Training. An injury shut him down for the year as rosters expanded, but he showed flashes of brilliance in his three starts. Not major-league ready this year, a full camp with the Nats may change their mind.
Finding a plug-in pitcher this winter, such as a Matt Albers-type, is also a possibility. The options are endless.
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With Gonzalez guaranteed a deal. that stability helps everyone. Including him and his young family.