MLB trade rumors: Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez drawing interest

The Nationals have received interest from teams regarding a possible deal for starter Gio Gonzalez, according to Jon Morosi of MLB.com.

Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post first reported that Gonzalez, catcher Matt Wieters, and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman all cleared revocable trade waivers. By doing so, they can be traded to any MLB club before Aug. 31.

The 32-year-old Gonzalez has been struggling this year during the Nationals’ lost season. He has gone 7-11 with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP in 140 ²⁄₃ innings pitched after posting a 15-9 mark, a 2.96 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 2017 — his best season since his first one in Washington in 2012 when he led the majors with 21 wins, a 2.82 FIP and 0.4 home runs per nine innings and led the National League with 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Morosi says Gonzalez’s “could fit with teams that have prominent starters on the disabled list, such as the Red Sox, Indians or Brewers.” He also says Gonzalez has “particular appeal” with possible playoff contenders that may face the Dodgers or Phillies down the road “because both teams rank in the bottom half of the Majors in OPS against left-handed pitchers.”

The other appeal for teams looking at Gonzalez is his playoff history, as he has started six games over the course of four postseasons with the Nationals. However, he has not gone beyond the sixth inning in any of them and holds a career 4.78 ERA with 19 walks and only 26 strikeouts in 26 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched. Despite these experiences, teams might take a chance on him because he is owed around $2 million for the rest of the year and he is a free agent after the season.

For the Nationals, dealing Gonzalez and getting a prospect or two in return would be ideal for them after they have already dealt Daniel Murphy to the Cubs and allowed the Cardinals to claim Matt Adams off waivers earlier this month.