The Milwaukee Brewers have been looking for rotation help all season and they've finally landed another starter.
Friday night, the Brewers have acquired left-hander Gio Gonzalez from the Nationals for prospects Gilbert Lara and K.J. Harrison, both teams announced. Milwaukee also received international bonus money in the trade.
OFFICIAL: The #Nats have traded Gio Gonzalez to the Brewers.
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) September 1, 2018
Thank you, Gio, for all you've done for the Nationals organization. pic.twitter.com/mqCPJiAhNW
Because he was acquired prior to 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, Gonzalez will be eligible for the postseason roster, should the Brewers qualify.
Gonzalez, 33 next month, has a 4.57 ERA (93 ERA+) with 126 strikeouts in 145 2/3 innings this season. He's always been a workhorse -- Gonzalez has made at least 27 starts every season since 2010 -- so, if nothing else, Milwaukee can feel confident he'll make all his starts the rest of the season.
Prior to adding Gio, the Brewers rotation depth chart looked something like this:
- Chase Anderson
- Jimmy Nelson (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery)
- Jhoulys Chacin
- Wade Miley
- Junior Guerra
- Brent Suter (rehabbing from Tommy John surgery)
- Freddy Peralta
There's an obvious place for Gonzalez in that rotation, especially with it looking less and less likely that Nelson will return before the end of the season. There is no such thing as too much pitching depth.
The Nationals, meanwhile, have taken part in a soft rebuild in recent days and weeks. Impending free agents Daniel Murphy and Ryan Madson were traded away, and Matt Adams was let go on a waiver claim. Now Gonzalez, another impending free agent, has been dealt.
MLB.com ranked Harrison as the 29th best prospect in the Brewers' farm system before the trade, saying he will "need to slug his way up the ladder as a first baseman" after transitioning way from catcher. Lara was not ranked among the Brewers' top 30 prospects by MLB.com.
Milwaukee comes into Friday with a 75-60 record. They are five games back in the NL Central but sit in the second NL wild card spot, a half-game back of the Cardinals and two games up on the Rockies.
