Back where it all began
Gonzalez hoping to bring success, stability to White Sox rotation
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Gio Gonzalez never has pitched for the White Sox.
But he’s very familiar with the organization.
The Sox drafted Gonzalez in the first round with the No. 38 pick in 2004. And they traded him twice as a prospect.
First, he was sent with Aaron Rowand and Daniel Haigwood to the Phillies for Jim Thome late in 2005.
A year later the Sox acquired Gonzalez and Gavin Floyd from the Phillies for Freddy Garcia. And on Jan. 3, 2008, the Sox dealt Gonzalez, Ryan Sweeney and Fautino De Los Santos to the Athletics for Nick Swisher.
And he’s back again after signing a one-year, $5 million contract in December.
“We joke about it,” Gonzalez said Saturday. “I told (executive vice president Ken Williams), ‘What, you guys didn’t want me at 20 years old?’ ”
Perhaps the Sox would have held on to Gonzalez had then known the lefthander would go on to post a 130-99 record with a 3.68 ERA in 332 appearances (324 starts) in 12 seasons with the Athletics (2008-11), Nationals (2012-18) and Brewers (2018-19).
Gonzalez is a two-time All-Star (201112) and finished third in National League Cy Young voting in 2012 and sixth in 2017.
He said the pursuit of a postseason berth was a reason he signed with the Sox. Another was catcher Yasmani Grandal, a Brewers teammate last season who signed a free-agent deal with the Sox in November.
They paired up in 16 games in 2019, and Gonzalez had a 3.73 ERA over 70 innings in those outings.
“Any time you can compete for a playoff berth is something very appealing to any players,” Gonzalez said. “… Yasmani made a very appealing case for me to come over here. I love the way he worked in Milwaukee. I thought he caught great games. It was good to see him establish this organization, plus it was nice to see the team that drafted me wanted me back. …
“As the days went by after the signing — (adding Dallas) Keuchel, (Edwin)
“It was nice to see the team that drafted me wanted me back.” —White Sox pitcher Gio Gonzalez about returning to the Sox
Encarnacion — a lot of names and even in-house guys that they signed (such as Luis Robert). That was very appealing to come over here. It seems like they want to do magic this year and for years to come. … The buzz is in the locker room. We are excited.”
The Sox value Gonzalez’s veteran presence.
“He’s had a lot of success over his career,” Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “That in and of itself brings a little bit of calm. Even when you’re talking to him, (he’s) very low-key. You get a sense that he’s very, very comfortable in his own skin, and that’s what happens when you’ve been in the big leagues the number of years that he has and having success.
“He’s able to exude that. And then subtle conversations that he can have with everybody, there’s a lot that he can bring to the table.”
Gonzalez has been slowed this spring because of left shoulder soreness but is “feeling really great.” General manager Rick Hahn said Wednesday that Gonzalez “won’t participate in the first week of spring games, but we anticipate him being ready to go when the bell rings come the end of March.”
Gonzalez missed some time last season because of left arm fatigue — he was on the injured list from June 1-July 20.
“That was because Milwaukee wanted to take their time with me,” Gonzalez said. “But I was ready to go. The second half I felt stronger, I was throwing harder and finished strong.”
He did, compiling a a 1.17 ERA in 23 innings in September and helping the Brewers earn an NL wild-card spot.
He wasn’t too worried when the shoulder soreness popped up recently.
“I told them right away: ‘Listen, this is something I think is minor,’ ” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t get to throw as much as I wanted to. And once things started popping up, I said ‘let me address this, tell them (it’s) something minor.’
“I feel good. I’m already throwing. (Sunday) we start a little longer and then we hit the long toss. It’s good progress.”