COULD NOT SNAGGING GIO GONZALEZ HAUNT THE YANKEES?

Look, this title is a bit deceiving.  I mean, it’s not like Gio Gonzalez was exclusive to the Yankees to trade for when he was dangled by the Athletics last winter and we just turned our backs on him.  The real story is the Yankees could have gave the A’s everything they wanted, which, at the time was a lot of "future" Yankees. As Capital New York has it HERE "the number of prospects they'd be forced to give up would be considerable: probably catching phenom Jesus Montero, along with several of the top starting pitching prospects the Yankees are counting on to take rotation spots."  Brian Cashman didn’t want to do that.  Then, in the flash Gio Gonzalez went to the Washington Nationals in a matter of minutes and suddenly that trade rumor was a distant memory. And what do the Yankees have now? Jesus Montero is on the Mariners and Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances are being touted as "overhyped".  It's amazing how quickly things change.  Meanwhile, Gio Gonzalez is having the season of his life.

Let’s be honest, Bleeding Yankee Blue was the blog that was pushing for Gio a lot harder than the others. We saw potential. There’s nothing wrong with the other blogs, but they didn’t see it as a story to really drive opinion on.  We did because we needed pitching and at the time, it was pre-Jesus Montero-Michael Pineda and it just made sense to me.  Now, I think I would have done what Cashman did, not give up my entire prospect list for the guy, but I would have negotiated alittle, after all, is Michael Pineda really better than Gio Gonzalez?  Bottom line, I would have been willing to part with some.

Gio Gonzalez is 10-3 this season with the Nationals with a 2.78 ERA.  Does the guy belong in the National League? Is he just lucky this season? Is it possible that because he moved from the AL to the NL he has an advantage on hitters who haven’t seen him? Or is Gio Gonzalez just good? I think you can make an argument for all those questions with solid answers.  Me personally, I would have done my best to get Gio.

Sure, you can look at the Yankees last outing against Gio and suggest “Why Gio? He ain’t all that.” Every pitcher has a bad outing, ask CC Sabathia, ask Hiroki Kuroda.  I’m just saying, over all, Gio is solid. Plus, the Nationals are rolling right now despite being swept by the Yankees and Gio Gonzalez is a huge contributor to that success in 2012.  You need to wonder if Gio would have had the same results in the American League on the Yankees with fellow roster guys like CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, before they got hurt of course, plus, who's the clear cut leader now that they are? Ivan Nova? Wouldn't Gio be a nice compliment to Nova at a time like this? Look, it's true, you can't go back, but I have always believed he would have fit in nicely.

It’s fun to think about, after all Gio is on his way to having a monster year and when it comes to great athleticism, I have to applaud any player for that, it’s a huge achievement.

Good luck Gio, I guess it was never meant to be…you in pinstripes and all…

ORDER A BYB SHIRT NOW, DROB WEARS ONE! Also, Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.