From the Law Article on ESPN.com (Insider so I'll only post this quote)

 

On Gio Gonzalez

He works heavily off his offspeed pitches, a plus 73-75 mph curveball with a sharp two-plane break and a straight 78-81 mph changeup with good arm speed, but his fastball can be short -- I've seen him as low as 84-86 mph, touching 89 in that outing -- and he doesn't command it well.

I was talking with my co-worker this morning about Gio. Now, let me start off by saying he has no knowledge of him and my limited knowledge of him comes from this site.

 

Our big question is, how great can he be if he is so easily traded? Or is that fairly typical with any minor league player? Ahhhhh it is good to be back.

I was talking with my co-worker this morning about Gio. Now, let me start off by saying he has no knowledge of him and my limited knowledge of him comes from this site.

 

Our big question is, how great can he be if he is so easily traded? Or is that fairly typical with any minor league player? Ahhhhh it is good to be back.

 

LOL ... He's been traded 3 times in 3 years. You'd could say he's a journeyman minor leaguer.

LOL ... He's been traded 3 times in 3 years. You'd could say he's a journeyman minor leaguer.

 

Yeah no doubt. He's no Hughes or Kershaw thats for sure. We'll find another Gio.

problem is with Law, BA has got Gio in the low to mid 90's when they have seen him. So, I guess Gio might be hit or miss.

I Don't think Gio could hit Mid 90's at least not consistanly with his frame.

Linecum????

Yeah no doubt. He's no Hughes or Kershaw thats for sure. We'll find another Gio.

 

Exactly! I'm glad Billy Beane reads BA. Nick will great for this team, and Jim Parque Jr. won't be more than a #4 or #5.

Exactly! I'm glad Billy Beane reads BA. Nick will great for this team, and Jim Parque Jr. won't be more than a #4 or #5.

I wouldnt go that far. Gio is a nice looking prospect, but certainly not the type that's irreplaceable.

So Gio is now Jim Parque Jr. Nice.

 

This trade is going to look worse than it actually will be because Gio is going to be good in Oakland; switching to a worse division and a much, much better ballpark will help that immensely. I could see him putting up a 4.25 ERA within the next year or two where he would be putting up 4.75-5.00 as a member of the Sox. Quite frankly, same thing applies to Swisher too.

So Gio is now Jim Parque Jr. Nice.

 

This trade is going to look worse than it actually will be because Gio is going to be good in Oakland; switching to a worse division and a much, much better ballpark will help that immensely. I could see him putting up a 4.25 ERA within the next year or two where he would be putting up 4.75-5.00 as a member of the Sox. Quite frankly, same thing applies to Swisher too.

Unless Gio turns into Barry Zito, gives them 200 innings and puts up an ERA in the low 3's for 5 straight years, I think he's a fair price for Swisher. DLS is the only one that worries me in that he could project higher, but who knows right now.

Unless Gio turns into Barry Zito, gives them 200 innings and puts up an ERA in the low 3's for 5 straight years, I think he's a fair price for Swisher. DLS is the only one that worries me in that he could project higher, but who knows right now.

 

I feel the same about DLS.

I feel the same about DLS.

Ditto. I'd take Swisher for 2 potential mid-rotation guys who are 1 and 2-3 years away respectively and a struggling formerly high prospect RF. If one of those 3 turns into a real stud this will hurt, but for 3 guys who might be average, that's a good buy.