Another major player joined the NL East today as the Nationals acquired Gio Gonzalez for A.J. Cole, Derek Norris, Brad Peacock, and Tom Milone.
For the Nationals, Gio Gonzalez represents an additional, fortified pitcher in a starting rotation that already boasts Strasburg. Gonzalez is a young pitcher with a low ERA, high endurance, and high strikeout rate. As a bonus to the Nationals, he is under team control until 2015. If you recall, the Nationals were trying to add CJ Wilson to the team.
In the past several seasons now, the NL East has added Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Mark Buehrle, Gio Gonzalez, Heath Bell, Jon Papelbon, while maintaining players like Ryan Howard, Jose Reyes, and Dan Uggla. With the power team vacuum starting to form in the NL Central (no more Pujols, and undecided Fielder) the shift of power in the National League is really in the east, and that isn’t a surprise.
Before this trade, I would have said that the order of the division in 2012 would be Phillies, Marlins, Braves, Mets and Nationals, with the possibility of the Braves and Mets flipping. Now with this trade, I would say the Nationals are now even with the Mets and the Braves, if not better. Here’s hoping we make a move soon.
