After giving up several of the team's top prospects in a trade for Gio Gonzalez less than one month ago, the Washington Nationals and the southpaw have agreed to terms on a contract extension to avoid salary arbitration through 2016, and hold options for 2017 and 2018, the club announced via Twitter.
Gonzalez, who was under team control through 2016, was arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason. With the two sides striking a deal, Gonzalez receives guaranteed money for his arbitration years while the Nationals buy out Gonzalez's first free-agent season and hold team options for the next two.
- Twitter / @NationalsPR: #Nationals agree to terms w/ LHP Gio Gonzalez on contract extension thru 2016, w/ options for 2017 & '18, thus avoiding salary arbitration.
The 26-year-old is coming off back-to-back seasons of 200 innings thrown, and posted a 3.17 ERA over the past two seasons. It'll be interesting to see how Gonzalez transition from pitching in the pitcher-friendly ballpark in Oakland to the Nationals'.