Chicago White Sox: Not a great 2020 grade for Gio Gonzalez
The Chicago White Sox didn’t see Gio Gonzalez have a good year in 2020.
It was probably really cool for Gio Gonzalez to finally pitch for the Chicago White Sox. The Sox originally drafted him back in 2004 but he never got to play for them. He was a part of a big package sent in a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jim Thome. He was later sent back to the White Sox along with Gavin Floyd in a trade that sent Freddy Garcia over to the Phillies. Once again, the White Sox sent Gonzalez on his way to the Oakland Athletics for Nick Swisher.
Finally, over the 2019-20 offseason, Gonzalez decided to come to play for the team that drafted him. He signed with the White Sox in free agency in a move that looked like it might provide some depth for the pitching staff. It didn’t really work out that way for him unfortunately as injury and bad performance hindered his year.
He technically had a negative impact on what was a very good White Sox team as he had a -0.3 WAR. He had a 1-2 record with a 4.83 ERA and 1.863 WHIP. He made four starts and appeared in 12 total games because the White Sox didn’t want him as a full-time starter. It was unfortunate that the White Sox didn’t get the Gio Gonzalez from his Nationals days because that would have really helped them be an even better team. He wasn’t even put on the playoff roster when that time came.
Final Grade: F
Gio Gonzalez gets an F because of the way he played. He is a quality person and it seems like his teammates enjoy him but when you have a negative WAR you probably don’t deserve a higher grade. We were all rooting for him to succeed this year but it just wasn’t the case.
light. Hot. James McCann's signature moment was catching a no-no
2021 outlook:
The Chicago White Sox did not pick up Gio Gonzalez’s 2021 club option for seven million dollars. We don’t know if anyone else is going to be interested in his services but he won’t be back on the South Side of Chicago. At 35 years old you would think that he still has some gas left in the tank but 2020 wasn’t good for him. Hopefully, he is able to find a home for 2021 and get back to form with a normal Spring Training and 162 game schedule.