I think they gave up a lot, but they believe they’re a frontline starter away from contention. Beane did a good job of ratcheting up the market for Gonzalez and the Nats evidently paid the market price. Their rotation is set without Peacock and Milone, they have a strong back of the bullpen, and they already have their long-term catcher in Wilson Ramos. They paid heavily, but they could afford to. The guys they really need at the ML level—primarily Rendon and Harper—they’ve still got.

That is a ton to give up.
Billy Beane will bury us all.

Gio still walks too may guys to be considered an elite pitcher in my mind. Certainly makes their team better this year, though.

4.32 career ERA on the road and xFIPs just under 4.00. Nationals paid a package worthy of an ace, and this guy ain’t no ace.

For the foreseeable future, if the prospects bust, it’s more losing for the Buccos. It’s build internally or fail. Free agency can net them useful role players like Barmes or bounceback guys like Bedard….it can’t get them franchise cornerstones.

Maybe. I don’t care for Norris and I see Cole as the only one of the 3 pitchers to have star potential. And, though I think Cole has a bigger upside than Gio, a lot can go wrong between his current level and the majors.

When I first saw that Gio got traded to the Nats, my guess on the return was Peacock, Norris, and a couple scrubs or lottery tickets, which would have been an even trade in my opinion. But since the “scrubs” turned out to be Cole and Milone, it’s a huge win for Oakland.

his “wicked” knuckle curve may not fool the average MLBer like it did the minor leaguers in 2011. he was a 41st round pick who actually stuck and was pretty much fodder until this past season.

gio, despite the walks, keeps runners off base.

good trade for both though. milone could end up being the better pitcher