For Yanks, it's decision time on Gio Gonzalez

April 20th, 2019

The Yankees have a decision to make by Saturday regarding Gio Gonzalez’s future, but the pitcher made a big decision of his own as he awaits word on whether he’ll join New York’s roster.

“We'll see. That's something that the front office is talking through,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on Friday. “He's pitched pretty well, and those will be conversations that obviously pick up steam here with some urgency in the next couple of days.”

Gonzalez has changed agents, leaving long-time rep Scott Boras in favor of CAA, according to sources. Gonzalez signed a Minor League contract with the Yankees on March 19 after more than four months of free agency left him still without a team.

The contract calls for Gonzalez to earn $3 million if he’s added to the Yankees’ active roster, with bonuses of $300,000 for each start he makes for New York. If Gonzalez isn’t added to the roster by Saturday, he can request his release, giving the club 48 hours to either add him to the roster or grant him his release.

According to a source, Gonzalez plans to opt out on Saturday if he’s not added to the roster. All indications are that the Yankees do not plan to add him, though that’s not a certainty.

Gonzalez has made three starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA. He was roughed up for eight runs over four innings in his debut, but has won each of his last two outings, allowing two runs over 11 frames. He was scheduled to start for the RailRiders on Friday, but the game against Buffalo was rained out.

The Yankees’ rotation will be without Luis Severino for a couple more months, though with Masahiro Tanaka, James Paxton, J.A. Happ and CC Sabathia all holding down spots, Gonzalez would have to take the place of Domingo German to get a crack at the rotation. German is 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA in four games, including three starts.