WASHINGTON – The newest member of the Washington Nationals’ starting rotation, Gio Gonzalez, has signed his US$42-million, five-year contract.
The left-hander, acquired in a trade with Oakland in December, says he looks forward to pitching alongside Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann.
Gonzalez was introduced at a news conference at Nationals Park on Wednesday, a little more than a month after the trade and 1 1/2 weeks after agreeing to his new contract.
General manager Mike Rizzo says Gonzalez is “going to be part of the furniture for a long time.”
The GM also repeatedly talked about his belief the Nationals finally are ready to play “meaningful games in September.”
The 26-year-old Gonzalez was an all-star in 2011, when he went 16-12 with a 3.12 ERA in 32 starts.
