Gio Gonzalez

[Diamondback Jay]

Reportedly, Arizona has quietly emerged as one of the front runners to acquire Gio Gonzalez.

Thoughts on this from my end:

On the plus side, Gio is a stud. He's got tremendous stuff, is still developing and still has some upside. He's showing signs of what he's capable of, and has seen his numbers improve in each of his first three full seasons. He's a true ace and would make Arizona's pitching staff that much better. My suspicion is his All Star appearance this season won't be his last.

On the flipside, he gives up a rather high amount of walks.. Moreso alarming isn't his ability, it's what Arizona would have to pay in prospects to get him. Keep in mind, the A's already have asked for Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison, Jesus Montero, Austin Jackson and Jacob Turner (just to name a few) in package deals for Gonzalez. Needless to say, he won't come cheaply. At MINIMUM, expect Parker and/or Skaggs to be part of any potential package deal. I fully expect a Dan Haren-esque trade package to be what coaxes Oakland in to moving him, he sure isn't coming cheap.

What say you? Is Gonzalez worth making a hefty prospect investment towards acquiring?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Either Parker or Skaggs, and then some mid range filler prospects. Considering the depth of good young pitching we have, we can afford to make this happen. Gio is really good, young and under control for 4 years. Get it done.

 

[Lefty]

No! Towers looks like he wants to be another Byrnes. Leave the minor league system alone. Skaggs is going to be a damn good pitcher.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

No! Towers looks like he wants to be another Byrnes. Leave the minor league system alone. Skaggs is going to be a damn good pitcher.

Lefty, we have a ton of good prospects, but no legit ace. Using what you have a lot of to fill a hole seems to be a good choice. Even if we give up Skaggs or Parker, we'll still have the other, plus Bauer and Bradley, and several other highly regarded pitching prospects.

Having Gio, plus Kennedy/Hudson/Collmenter under contract for the time being would give us a much greater chance of taking advantage of our current situation. The future is now, and even sans one of these pitchers, we have plenty to spare.

 

[azsportsfan01]

The only pitcher I would want would be Cahill. Gio Gonzalez is a fly ball pitcher. He won't work in Arizona. Cahill is a ground ball pitcher. That said I wouldn't give up Parker or Skaggs for him. Parker has legit ace stuff and Skaggs as of now tops out at a 2 but with a little more improvement he can become an ace. If the package was built around a Charles Brewer type pitcher I would be interested. Otherwise keep on walking.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Ultimately it comes down to how much more than Skaggs would they want.. If it is Skaggs/filler lets do it...

Gio is legit, Skaggs is a projection..

I would not trade Parker though..

A Lefty that projects as an Ace are hard to come by, and while Skaggs may be good, how much better may he be than Gio? And Gio has already proven what he can do, Skaggs is still a little unknown..

I am ALL FOR grabbing Gio for the right price, and Skaggs + a little more is fine by me

 

[Lefty]

Lefty, we have a ton of good prospects, but no legit ace. Using what you have a lot of to fill a hole seems to be a good choice. Even if we give up Skaggs or Parker, we'll still have the other, plus Bauer and Bradley, and several other highly regarded pitching prospects.

Having Gio, plus Kennedy/Hudson/Collmenter under contract for the time being would give us a much greater chance of taking advantage of our current situation. The future is now, and even sans one of these pitchers, we have plenty to spare.

Gio is not an Ace like Haren, plus he is eligible for arbitration. Skaggs has a lot of talent and if they are going to trade him, I would rather trade for a bat. They have a lot of talented arms but need a bat.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

I may be alone but I wouldn't object to a Davidson, Pollock and Corbin for Cahill deal.

I like Cahill almost as much as Gio. While he doesn't have the full arsenal Gonzalez does, he's a ground ball pitcher with very good control and doesn't give up a ton of runs or hits. Plus at 23, he's still got plenty of years left and it likely wouldn't cost them Parker or Skaggs.

As for Oakland, for what its worth, they seem to insist on Parker, and aren't as interested in Skaggs.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

The latest...

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11:45am: Talks between the A's and D'Backs have advanced but aren't close to completion, tweets Olney. He reiterates that Bauer is a player of interest to Oakland.

THURSDAY, 8:49am: The A's and D'Backs have discussed the names of many prospects as a possible return for Cahill, even including Trevor Bauer, reports ESPN's Buster Olney. Bauer, I should note, can't even be included in a deal as a player to be named later until late January.

The SECOND Bauer's name was brought up, I tell them pound salt and hang up.

His name shouldn't even be HAGGLED with. No way, no how.

 

[overseascardfan]

I don't see why we don't just keep Parker, Bauer & Skaggs. All will probably be better than Gio in a couple of years and are not eligible for arbitration. Didn't ARZ not learn from the Haren deal, keep your farm stocked and develop your own talent. Eventually the can be like OAK in the Billy Beane days and trade young talent for cheaper young talent and still compete. Bring back Money Ball.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Gio is not an Ace like Haren, plus he is eligible for arbitration. Skaggs has a lot of talent and if they are going to trade him, I would rather trade for a bat. They have a lot of talented arms but need a bat.

My understanding is he'll be under control for the next 4 years. Gio may not be Haren, but his #'s have been quite great the last 2 years. Everything with Parker/Skaggs/Bauer is projection, I hope one of them is as good as Gio.

 

[Matt L]

I do like Gio, but I wouldn't give up Bauer for him.

 

[JS22]

he A's and D'Backs have discussed the names of many prospects as a possible return for Cahill, even including Trevor Bauer

I find that REALLY hard to believe.

 

[AsUdUdE]

Screw that.. anything less than Gio AND Cahill for Bauer/filler and they can go fall off a cliff..

Why dont they ask for Upton while their at it..