The Washington Nationals have traded for Gio Gonzalez with minor league pitcher Robert Gilliam for AJ Cole, Brad Peacock, Tom Milone, and Derek Norris.
Why would the Nationals dish out so many top prospects for a single pitcher and a 24 year old who hasn't made it past A+ yet? The Nationals definitely want to win now, and if Gio pitches well and leads them to a division title, they will be ecstatic and hopefully not worried about the prospects they gave away. This trade reminds me all too much of the Expo's Colon trade they made way back when.
I guess you can say that the Nationals should be happy because they went out to acquire what could be an ace to the rotation, and they got it, albeit costing top prospects. When you are a team that has released statements before saying that you are ready to "overpay" for top of the line players that you will need to compete(as when they were trying to trade for BJ Upton), teams are going to try and ram you out of as many prospects as they can. The Nationals rotation is going to look very solid next year, with Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmermann. and Lannan, with Chien Ming-Wang and prospects competing for the 5th spot, it is a rotation to be matched. The only team in the AL East with a better rotation in my opinion is the Phillies, and this rotation costs $34 million dollars cheaper.
The Athletics acquire a great group of prospects in this trade. As I stated earlier, 3 of the prospects they acquired were in the National's top ten list. These players are Peacock(#3), Cole(#4) and Norris(#9). They were looking for a huge package of prospects for Gonzalez and got it.
Overall Verdict: Athletics Win
The Nationals overpayed for Gonzalez and unless he becomes the next Cliff Lee, you can't justify this trade yet. The Nationals want to compete, but they don't know how to buy without giving up the farm. The Nationals wanted to acquire an ace, and they got it.
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