Phillies Should Consider Southpaw González to Balance Starting Rotation

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies accomplished many of their offseason goals, from improving the club's defense and adding All-Star-caliber talent, including Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto and Andrew McCutchen. What they failed to address, however, is adding a top-line left-handed starter.

Now, 20 games into the season, an effective left-handed starter may soon be available that the Phillies should consider signing to improve their starting rotation, which entering Sunday had a National League seventh-worst 4.66 ERA — Gio González.

González, 33, signed a minor-league contract with the New York Yankees on March 18. González parted ways with agent Scott Boras for CAA on Friday. One day later, the veteran opted out of his contract with the Yankees, who have 48 hours to either add him from Triple-A to the active roster, or grant him his release, according to SNY's Andy Martino.

Adding the two-time All-Star to the rotation, if the Yankees release him, would provide a much-needed balance to the Phillies' right-handed heavy rotation, at a much cheaper cost than what signing Dallas Keuchel, or trading for Madison Bumgarner, would require. González would have only earned $3 million with the Yankees if he reached the majors in 2019, a $9 million pay cut from his $12 million salary in 2018 with the Washington Nationals. The Phillies are just an estimated $17 million away from the luxury tax threshold. Every dollar counts, especially when Realmuto and Rhys Hoskins still need contract extensions.

Update, 4/22: The Yankees have released González.

González and Harper both played down at the nation's capital from 2012 to 2018. The Phillies acquired the 12-year veteran from the Chicago White Sox in December 2005 as part of the trade that sent eventual Hall of Famer Jim Thome back to the American League. Nearly one year later, he was dealt back to the White Sox, along with RHP Gavin Floyd, in exchange for RHP Freddy Garcia.

The Yankees are currently 10-10 and sit 3 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. Their team is currently riddled with injuries, including OF Aaron Judge (oblique), 1B Greg Bird (elbow), OF Jacoby Ellsbury (hip), C Gary Sanchez (calf), SS Didi Gregorius (elbow), reliever Ben Heller (elbow), shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (calf), OF Giancarlo Stanton (biceps), 3B Miguel Andujar (shoulder), reliever Dellin Betances (shoudler), OF Aaron Hicks (back), and starting pitchers Luis Severino (shoulder) and Jordan Montgomery (elbow).

Through three Triple-A starts this season, González is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA, 19-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.667 WHIP spanning 15 innings. The Hialeah, Florida, native has a career 127-97 win-loss record, 3.69 ERA and 1.316 WHIP since debuting with the Oakland Athletics in August 2008.

Among active pitchers, González ranks 12th in games started (307), 13th in wins (127) and strikeouts (1,748), 16th in batters faced (7,723), and 21st in ERA (3.69).