• D.C. GM Mike Rizzo pulled the trigger and the Washington Nationals have the starting pitcher they've talked about adding since September. Are you still hurting a little thinking about the haul the A's received in return? There's no shortage of opinions out there about what Washington and Oakland did yesterday. After acquiring Jayson Werth last winter, the Nats' general manager's made another bold move to improve the nation's capital's Nats. Enough stalling, the Nationals made a big deal, here's what people are writing and saying about the move. Opinions and lots of 'em... RIGHT NOW!!
• THE BIG STORY!!!:
• "In exchange for Gonzalez, a 26-year-old who has won 15+ games and thrown 200+ innings in each of the past two seasons, the Nationals are giving up three pitching prospects..." - "Nationals pull off blockbuster deal for Gio Gonzalez" - Dave Sheinin, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• NATS BEAT:
• "Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo made his requirements in the team’s search for a starting pitcher this offseason perfectly clear. " - "Nationals acquire lefty starter Gio Gonzalez from Oakland" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• video courtesy of FOXSports.com and NewsInc.com
• "A quiet offseason so far was given a jolt when Washington sent pitchers Brad Peacock, Tom Milone and A.J. Cole and catcher Derek Norris to Oakland for Gonzalez..." - "Nationals trade with A's for left-hander Gonzalez" - Brian McNally, Washington Examiner
• "'I love everything about it,' Gonzalez said about the rotation via phone. 'I remember growing up watching Chien-Ming Wang with Yankees...'" - "Nationals land left-hander Gio Gonzalez, send four prospects to Athletics" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "The announcement of the blockbuster trade drew a few gasps at the prospects the Nationals gave up to get left-hander Gio Gonzalez from the Oakland A's." - "After Gonzalez trade, what's left in Nationals' system?" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "If there's a job one for the Washington coaching staff, it's to somehow get Gonzalez to harness his great stuff and command the strike zone better." - "Gio Gonzalez strengthens Nationals' hand in NL East" - Richard Justice, nationals.com: News
• "Start with the obvious: What this means for the Nationals' rotation, both in 2012 and beyond..." - "The net effect of 'Nat Gio'" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "General manager Mike Rizzo began laying the groundwork for Gonzalez's arrival at the Winter Meetings in Dallas..." - "Price was high, but Nats finally get workhorse arm in Gio Gonzalez (updated)" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "The aim of spiritual and therefore ethical practice is to transform and perfect the individual’s motivation and mental disposition."
• "He throws a fastball, curveball and changeup but relies most heavily on his fastball and curveball, throwing his fastball almost 65 percent of the time in 2011 and his curve nearly 28 percent." - "A quick primer on the newest National: Gio Gonzalez" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Washington parts with four high-level prospects to add a top-of-the-rotation starter." - "Nationals acquire lefty Gio Gonzalez in trade" - Dave Sheinin, The Washington Post
• "With the acquisition of Gonzalez, the Nationals expect him to part of a 2012 rotation that will also feature Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, John Lannan and Chien Ming-Wang." - "Nats trade four prospects to Oakland for Gonzalez" - Greg Otto, WTOP.com
• "The Washington Nationals made it clear they want to try and win sooner rather than later by trading four prospects..." - "Oakland Athletics get quality and quantity for Gio Gonzalez" - Keith Law, ESPN
• "They became the favorite for Gonzalez immediately after entering the picture through their tremendous prospect list, which was compiled vis super recent drafts." - "Nats great drafts helped them land Gio" - Jon Heyman, CBSSports.com
• Twitter: ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick): "Baseball people waiting for Mike Rizzo to 'bail out' Boras on 1 of his free agents. But $250M for Prince is an awful lot of bailing." -
• "UPDATE: I just spoke to a major-league scout who is familiar with all the players the A’s received and he told me, 'I don’t know how Oakland could have done better.'" - "Gio Gonzalez is heading from A’s to Nationals" - Susan Slussher, The Drumbeat | an SFGate.com blog
• Twitter: ESPN.com's Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN): "Rival evaluator: 'I'm not sure that in 2 years, Peacock will better than Gio.' Says Peacock reminds him of Brad Radke;knows how to pitch, win."
• A's Perspective: "Baseball Nation's Analysis on the Gio Gonzalez Trade and more" - baseballgirl, Athletics Nation
• "Right-handed pitchers Brad Peacock and A.J. Cole were both sent to the A's in the deal, along with left-hander Tommy Milone and catcher Derek Norris." - "Nationals acquire Gio Gonzalez from A's in exchange for Brad Peacock, Tommy Milone, Derek Norris and A.J. Cole" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "We're still waiting definitive word from the Nationals, of course, but if the deal goes down as reported, the A's got quite a haul for the 26-year-old southpaw..." - "Done deal? Report says Rizzo snags Gonzalez in 4-for-1 swap (updated)" - Pete Kerzel, MASNSports.com
• "Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has spent the last two winters desperately seeking to add another front-line starter..." - "Nats get Gio for Peacock, Norris, Cole, Milone" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "Washington gained one of baseball's brightest pitching stars with its acquisition of 26-year-old left-hander Gio Gonzalez." - "Nationals, A's fulfill goals with Gio Gonzalez deal" - Bernie Pleskoff, nationals.com: News
• "[Gio] Gonzalez, who is a proven rotation stalwart and has thrown 200 innings in each of the past two seasons, is under team control through the 2015 season..." - "What the Nationals gave up to acquire LHP Gio Gonzalez from the A's" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "'It's unbelievable. It's a unique thing. It's different. It's cool. It's exciting. It's something different,' Gonzalez said. 'All in all, this is baseball.'" - "Gio surprised by trade, but happy to join Nats" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "[Gio] Gonzalez is a bona-fide front of the rotation starter -- just like the Nationals have said ad-nauseam that they were looking for..." - "As the dust settles, projecting the Nationals' 12-man pitching staff on Dec. 23" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• NATS MINOR/WINTER LEAGUES:
• "Bryce Harper seems prepared to challenge Alex Ovechkin for the crown of D.C. Athlete Most Likely to Post a Celebrity Photo on his Twitter Feed." - "Bryce Harper with Brad Paisley" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• Liga Mexicana del Pacifico: Culiacan 4, Mazatlan 3 - Rafael Martin (MAZ) - (L, 2-1), 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 1 HR - Box Score.
• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico: Ponce 4, Carolina 3 - Hassan Pena (PON) - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K; Joe Testa (PON) - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Zulia 9, Lara 0 - Carlos Maldonado (ZUL) - 1 for 1, 1 R, 2 RBI's, 3 BB - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Magallanes 5, La Guaira 4 - Jesus Flores (MAG) - 1 for 4, 1 2B - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Caribes 7, Caracas 5 - Josh Wilkie (CAR) 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K - Box Score.
• NATSTOWN:
• "Well, the rumors turned out to be true. The Nats today traded four major prospects for Oakland’s Gio Gonzalez." - "Gio Gonzalez: Big Trade, Big Risk" - Todd Boss, Nationals Arm Race
• "Yeah, we hear you. Next order of business: settle on his nickname. Is he 'Gio Joe' or 'Nat Gio', or 'Super G'?" - "Gio Gonzalez > Superman?" - Nats Enquirer
• "It was an awkward day to be a pitcher for either organization, as 5 of the 6 players in the deal were pitchers." - "Nats Give Away The Store For Gio Gonzalez" - Keara Dowd, Win For Teddy
• "Peacock, Milone, Cole, Norris. First Thoughts. They don't need any of these (in particular because they got a pitcher back in trade) but it's still a high price." - "Gio to the Nats" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• "[Brad] Peacock rose fast in the Nats system, showing a plus fastball and nasty knuckle-curve, but has yet to develop a consistent third pitch that would seem necessary to thrive as a starter in the big leagues." - "DONE DEAL: Nationals acquire Gio Gonzalez from A’s" - Dave Nichols, District Sport Page
• "Well, the Nats went ahead and pulled the trigger on a big trade today, and it was a doozy." - "Nats Get a Pitcher, Maybe Give Up an Ace" - The Nationals Review
• "The only thing standing in the way of left-handed pitcher Gio Gonzalez becoming a Washington National is a physical on Friday, but there is every indication he will pass it." - "Here Is Gio Gonzalez With Iron Man" - Danger Nat, Nationals Inquisition
• "At some point, though, a baseball team has to make tough decisions get to the next step. A deep farm system and talented prospects are great, but the fact remains that prospects are prospects." - "Nationals Win in Gio Gonzalez Trade" - Joe Drugan, The Nats Blog
• "This morning I was thinking about doing a post about how boring this off-season had been so far–nothing more interesting going on for the Nats than signing minor league free agents..." - "I don’t like it" - Nat Anacostia, Nats Noodles
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Braves: "The budget-conscious Braves continue to search for a left fielder or fourth outfielder and a backup shortstop, searches that general manager Frank Wren said could carry over into the spring." - "Have Braves lost ground in ever-improving NL East?" - David O'Brien, Atlanta Journal Constitution
• Mets: "David Wright: A healthy bat behind him in the lineup. One that can protect Wright so he can take advantage of the new dimensions at Citi Field." - "New York Mets' Christmas Wish List" - Rich Coutinho, CBS New York
• Phillies: "The question mark is Vance Worley. We spent the majority of 2011 waiting for the other shoe to drop … and it never really did. Does that mean we can expect him to roll right along in 2012?" - "Will Worley regress in sophomore season?" - Corey Seidman, CSNPhilly.com
• Marlins: "Tough pill for Marlins fans to swallow Thursday. Not only is native son Gio Gonzalez not coming to the Marlins, he’s headed to the division rival Washington Nationals." - "Gio Gonzalez would have cost Mike Stanton or Logan Morrison" - Juan C. Rodriguez, Florida Sun-Sentinel