Position: LHP
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/L
Born: 02/16/1992
College: Gonzaga University
Drafted: 1st round, 19th Overall, 2013 (Cardinals)
How Acquired: Trade (with Braves for a PTBNL or cash)
Bonus: $1,850,000
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 0
Overview
Gonzales is a soft-tossing lefty who’s made a career out of getting better results than his peripheral numbers suggest. From 2018-21, he had an excellent four-year run, going 46-30. During that time, his ERA ranged from 3.10 to 4.00. His xFIP, though, was below 4.13 only once and above 5.00 twice. The Cards drafted him in the first round in 2013 mainly on the strength of a change that scouts graded a 70. It’s been a good pitch in the majors, but not quite at that level. His fastball, which he usually throws less than 40% of the time, sits in the 88-89 mph range. He also throws a cutter and curve. For his career, Gonzales has a minimal platoon split. He’s a mild groundball pitcher and has had trouble with gopher balls in recent seasons. He doesn’t walk many, but he doesn’t miss bats. In fact, according to Statcast, he’s generally had one of the lowest whiff rates in MLB. The Pirates acquired him for very little cost from the Braves.
2013-16
Gonzales reached the majors quickly. In 2014, his first full season, he got off to a very good start in High Class A and AA. The Cards called him up in June and he made three starts before going back to AAA. He put up a 3.35 ERA there over eight starts, then spent the last month with the Cards, pitching well, mostly in relief. In 2015, he pitched through soreness and struggled, with a 5.45 ERA in 14 AAA starts. He also made one rough start in the majors. In the spring of 2016, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the season.
2017-21
In 2017, Gonzales made his way back to the majors, pitching well in 11 AAA starts. In late July, the Cards traded him to Seattle. He spent most of the rest of the season with the Mariners, mostly as a starter. He got hit hard, leading to a 1.75 WHIP.
Gonzales spent 2018-21 in the Mariners’ rotation and got consistently good results. He did it despite very low K rates, but he didn’t walk many and, in a couple years, benefited from low batting averages on balls in play. His ERAs during those years were 4.00, 3.99, 3.10 and 3.96. He started showing signs in 2021, though, that hitters were catching up to his stuff, as he allowed 29 gopher balls in 143.1 IP. He also missed time with a forearm strain.
2022-23
Gonzales’ 2022 season was less successful, but still not bad, as he went 10-15, 4.13. The longball problems continued, as he allowed 30 in 183 innings, and his K/9 dropped to a career-low 5.1. In 2023, Gonzales went out for the season in early June with a nerve issue in his left forearm. In ten starts before that, he posted a 5.22 ERA and opponents hit .282 against him. He ultimately had surgery to relieve the nerve problem. It’s a type of surgery that pitchers have not generally bounced back from successfully.
The Pirates acquired Gonzales as a result of two trades, two days apart in December 2023. Atlanta acquired him from Seattle in a straight salary dump trade, with the Mariners giving up Jarred Kelenic in return for the Braves taking on part of Gonzales’ and Evan White’s salaries. The Braves sent Gonzales on in what appeared to be a prearranged deal with the Pirates, picking up part of his salary and getting only a player to be named later or cash in return. Gonzales figures to fill one of the Pirates’ many rotation openings at limited cost, which is always their overriding priority, with the surgery adding to the dubious nature of the move. The Pirates will pay only $3M of his $12M salary. His contract expires after 2024, although there’s a $15M club option for 2025, with no buyout.
2024
Gonzales made only seven starts for the Pirates, which was predictable given his injury history. He pitched well at the beginning of the season, allowing just five earned runs in his first 17 innings, but after three starts he went on the injured list with a nerve problem. He was out for three months, then returned to make four more starts. They didn’t go well, as he allowed 28 hits in just 16.2 IP, leading to a 6.48 ERA in those starts. After an August 7 start, the Pirates placed Gonzales on the 60-day injured list with a forearm strain, effectively ending his season.
Stats
Transactions
June 9, 2010: Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round, 890th overall pick.
June 6, 2013: Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round, 19th overall pick; signed on June 19.
June 25, 2014: Contract purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals.
July 21, 2017: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Seattle Mariners for Tyler O’Neill.
December 3, 2023: Traded by the Seattle Mariners with Jarred Kelenic and Evan White to the Atlanta Braves for Jackson Kowar, Cole Phillips and $4,500,000.
December 5, 2023: Traded by the Atlanta Braves with cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later or cash.