Will Gio Gonzalez sign with the New York Yankees?

The New York Yankees started Spring Training a few weeks ago, and the club already realizes that they may need some pitching help.

Luis Severino is expected to be out for at least one month into the 2019 season. In addition, left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia is still recovering from some health issues, and his return date remains unclear. With two of the Yankees’ strongest pitchers out, the pitching staff is weighing their options to see if adding an ace would be worth it.

It appears that 33-year-old Gio Gonzalez is at the top of their list. 2018 was a tough season for Gonzalez as he bounced around from the Washington Nationals to the Milwaukee Brewers in the middle of the season. He also suffered an ankle injury in Game 4 of the NLCS, causing him to miss the rest of the postseason.

Despite the struggles, Gonzalez has a solid resume that the Yankees can use to their advantage. He has 11 years of experience in the majors with a 127-97 career record and a 3.69 ERA.

Gonzalez started his MLB career in 2004 after being drafted by the Chicago White Sox. Throughout his career, he also was part of the Philadelphia Phillies and Oakland Athletics organizations. He is a two-time all-star, and in 2012 he was the NL wins leader and finished third in the National League Cy Young voting.

The current options the Yankees have to fill the void are not ideal. Although the club acquired some young pitchers with a lot of potential, relying on them for the starting rotation can be very risky.

Domingo German has struggled in Spring Training with his pitching consistency resulting in walks and home runs for opponents. Jonathan Loaisiga continues to make a strong case for himself, but there is no denying he lacks experience in the majors. These are all factors that New York must consider before the start of the season.

The Yankees made an offer to Gonzalez according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, but it has not been confirmed. It will take some time for New York to negotiate, but the deal seems to be mutually beneficial.

It is late in the game for Gonzalez to be unsigned, and the Yankees can never have enough pitchers. The MLB season is long, leaving a lot of time for more injured players. Acquiring a new player with plenty of pitching experience can work to New York’s advantage.

Keep a close eye for updates on the Yankees and Gonzalez, to see if he will be wearing pinstripes this season.