Gonzalez announced Thursday via his personal Instagram account that he has elected to retire from professional baseball.
Gonzalez had been attending camp with the Marlins as a non-roster invitee, hoping to secure a spot on the team's Opening Day roster as a fifth starter. With Trevor Rogers and Nick Neidert having emerged as the clear frontrunners for the final rotation spot, Gonzalez determined he was best off stepping away from the game rather than reporting to the Marlins' alternate training site at the conclusion of camp. The 35-year-old lefty spent parts of 13 seasons in the majors with the Athletics, Nationals, Brewers and White Sox, going 131-101 with a career 3.70 ERA while earning two All-Star nods.
Gonzalez threw a 32-pitch live batting practice session Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Gonzalez continues to ramp up his throwing progression after signing a minor-league deal with Miami earlier in the month. The southpaw's fastball reportedly sat around 91 mph, which, as De Nicola notes, would be his highest velocity since the 2016 campaign. "I thought it was really good," stated skipper Don Mattingly. "His breaking ball had more action today. The guys that were hitting said it was tougher to pick up today, it was staying closed longer." The club has yet to decide when Gonzalez will throw next, but he'll continue to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster. If he makes the club, Gonzalez would likely work as a swing man.
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Marlins' Gio Gonzalez: Agrees to deal with Marlins
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Gonzalez signed a minor-league contract with the Marlins on Wednesday, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.
Gonzalez had been a free agent since having his club option declined by the White Sox in October, but he finally latched on with a new squad, and it is essentially the hometown team for the South Florida resident. Gonzalez's deal includes an invitation to big-league camp, so he will have a chance to earn a roster spot in the weeks ahead. He struggled a bit last season but did post a 3.50 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with the Brewers two years ago, so he may have a little bit left in the tank.
The White Sox declined Gonzalez's (undisclosed) $7 million club option for 2021 on Friday.
The veteran left-hander posted a 4.83 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 34:19 K:BB over 31.2 innings this season, so it's no surprise to see Chicago electing to pay the $500,000 buyout. Gonzalez suffered an undisclosed injury during the final game of the regular season and was left off the playoff roster, and it's unclear if he's fully recovered from that issue.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Not on wild-card roster
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Gonzalez (undisclosed) is not part of the White Sox's roster for the AL Wild Card Series against Oakland.
Gonzalez left his final outing of the year Sunday against the Cubs with an undisclosed injury. It's not clear whether his absence from the roster is injury-related or if the team simply didn't foresee him playing a role during the three-game series. He wasn't particularly impressive in four starts and eight relief appearances this season, as his 4.83 ERA came with a 1.86 WHIP.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Leaves game with apparent injury
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Gonzalez was removed from Sunday's game against the Cubs with an apparent injury, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Gonzalez appeared to be in pain after throwing a curveball in the top of the seventh inning during the regular-season finale, and he was removed immediately thereafter. The exact nature and severity of the injury aren't yet known.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Gives up game-winning homer
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Gonzalez (1-2) recorded an out prior to allowing a solo home run in the White Sox' 3-2 loss to the Indians on Wednesday night.
Operating out of the bullpen after returning from a groin injury, Gonzalez had yet to allow a run through 5.1 innings of work. That changed on Wednesday, with Jordan Luplow mashing one into the left-field bleachers. Gonzales ups his ERA to 4.50, but he's a candidate to see a lot of work in the final days of the season as the White Sox look to rest their key arms.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Throws two innings
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Gonzalez allowed one unearned run on one hit and three walks while striking out two over two innings in Wednesday's 8-1 win over the Pirates.
Gonzalez made his first appearance since being activated from the injured list. He's expected to serve as a multi-inning reliever, although he could spot start. The White Sox are skipping Dallas Keuchel (back) this turn through the rotation, so they will need a fill-in starter this weekend against Detroit.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Returns from injured list
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Gonzalez (groin) was activated from the injured list Tuesday.
Gonzalez had been out since late August with a strained groin. He's made four starts and a pair of relief appearances so far this season, posting an unremarkable 5.11 ERA along with a 1.86 WHIP. It's not yet clear what his role will be upon his return. Zack Burdi was optioned in a corresponding move.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Throwing this weekend
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Gonzalez (groin) is expected to throw this weekend at Chicago's alternate site, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Gonzalez has been on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 27. If he makes it back up to the majors before the end of the season, Gonzalez is expected to pitch as a reliever capable of throwing multiple innings.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Shut down with groin strain
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The White Sox placed Gonzalez on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a right groin strain, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.
Chicago recalled Dane Dunning from its alternate site in a corresponding move, and he'll replace Gonzalez as the White Sox's fifth starter in Sunday's game against the Royals. Provided his groin strain isn't too severe, Gonzalez should return from the IL at some point in September, but it's unclear if he'll have a spot in the rotation waiting for him once activated. Gonzalez has made six appearances (four starts) in 2020, logging a 5.11 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB in 24.2 innings.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Wins in relief
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Gonzalez (1-1) recorded his first win in Saturday's 7-4 victory over the Cubs. He allowed one hit and three walks while striking out two over 3.2 scoreless innings.
Gonzalez was replaced in the starting rotation by Reynaldo Lopez, who was activated off the injured list to start Saturday's game. Lopez wasn't ready to go deep -- he stuck around for only 50 pitches and 3.1 innings -- so Gonzalez was needed for bulk innings in relief. Depending on how Lopez responds to his start since late July, Gonzalez may remain in a bulk-inning role for the rest of the season.
Gonzalez allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 across 4.2 innings Monday against the Tigers. He did not factor into the decision.
Gonzalez quickly racked up 99 pitches in the outing by regularly working into deep counts with hitters. The end result was an impressive strikeout count backed by 19 swinging strikes, but yet another short outing due to inefficiency. Gonzalez has now failed to complete five innings of work in all four of his starts this season. He also maintains a 6.00 ERA across 21 frames to go along with a 24:10 K:BB. Gonzalez is in line to draw his next start Saturday at the Cubs.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Stalls in fifth inning
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Gonzalez allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two across 4.2 innings Tuesday against the Tigers. He did not factor into the decision.
Gonzalez was given a four-run cushion prior to throwing a pitch, and was able to maintain it for four innings. However, he ran into trouble in the fifth frame, allowing a two-run home run and another single prior to being yanked from the contest. Gonzalez now owns a 6.61 ERA through four total outings, and has failed to reach five innings in any of them. If the White Sox can go forward with their weekend series against the Cardinals, Gonzalez is currently projected for his next start Sunday.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Unravels after misplay
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Gonzalez (0-1) picked up the loss Thursday when he allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings against Milwaukee.
Gonzalez worked around baserunners early and held a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning when left fielder Eloy Jimenez misplayed a catchable fly ball down the line. That turned into a Christian Yelich inside-the-park home run. After that, the inning unraveled. Gonzalez gave up a walk, a traditional over-the-fence home run and two singles. This was Gonzalez's second start as a replacement for Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder), and he'll make a third start next Tuesday in Detroit.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Delivers 3.2 scoreless frames
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Gonzalez allowed five hits and three walks over 3.2 scoreless innings Saturday against the Royals. He had six strikeouts and didn't qualify for the decision.
The veteran southpaw wasn't especially sharp as he needed 77 pitches to record 11 outs, but he generated 10 swinging strikes and was able to keep Kansas City off the board. Gonzalez should continue to fill the rotation spot of Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) and lines up to pitch against the Brewers on Thursday.
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White Sox's Gio Gonzalez: Returns to rotation
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Gonzalez will fill Reynaldo Lopez's (shoulder) spot in the rotation going forward, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
It's not yet clear how many turns Gonzalez will make in the rotation, as the team has yet to provide a timeline after an MRI revealed shoulder inflammation for Lopez on Monday. Lopez's spot is due to come up Saturday in Kansas City, though the White Sox have an off day Thursday and could presumably move things around.
