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Atlanta Braves: 2 Under the Radar FA Pitchers to Target This Offseason

By Jake Mastroianni

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 27: General view of a ball on the mound before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cincinnati Reds at Target Field on April 27, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 27: General view of a ball on the mound before the game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cincinnati Reds at Target Field on April 27, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 16: Pitcher Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the first inning of Game Four of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 16: Pitcher Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the first inning of Game Four of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Gio González

I almost threw up in my mouth when the thought of this first crossed my mind because I can only picture him in a Nationals uniform, but Gio Gonzalez has actually been a great pitcher at times throughout his career.

In the first half of the 2018 season Gio was rolling for the Nationals and had a 3.72 ERA in 101.2 innings pitched with 94 strikeouts.

Things didn’t go quite as great in the second half as he changed teams, which is why a lot of clubs are probably shying away from him this offseason.

But his track record shows that he has the potential to be a top of the rotation pitcher.

Just back in 2017 he had a 2.96 ERA in 201 innings pitched with 188 strikeouts. He finished sixth in the Cy Young voting that season.

Overall he has a career ERA of 3.69 in 1,814 innings pitched with a K/9 rate of 8.7 and a WHIP of 1.32.

If he signed with the Braves he’d also be pitching in a division that he is already very familiar with and where he’s had success before.

Plus, he would add another lefty to the rotation to join with Newcomb.

I know the thought of him in a Braves uniform may seem weird to some — including myself — but I really think he could good for the Braves. He’s thrown 170 innings or more in every season but one (158.2 innings in 2014) since 2010.

Gio could be a veteran presence as we ease some of the young guys into the staff, while also being a very productive pitcher who eats innings.

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