WASHINGTON (AP)—Gio Gonzalez agreed to a $42 million, five-year contract
with the Washington Nationals on Sunday, just three weeks after the left-hander
was acquired in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

The deal includes options for two more years. It was the largest guaranteed
contract for a pitcher eligible for arbitration for the first time.

The 26-year-old Gonzalez went 16-12 last season—a career high for wins—
with a 3.12 ERA in 32 starts and was selected to his first All-Star game. He has
reached 200 innings the past two seasons.

“Gio’s ample talents are well known and chronicled,” Nationals general
manager Mike Rizzo said through a team spokesman. “Today’s extension was about
comfort for both parties. From our end, the two option years and team control
were imperative to the extended commitment.

“Now both Gio and our fans can shift their focus and excitement to his
debut in DC knowing that their relationship won’t be ending in the short term.”

Gonzalez was acquired in a six-player deal with Oakland on Dec. 23, giving
the Nationals a promising rotation that also includes right-handers Stephen
Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. After finishing last in the NL East in three
consecutive seasons, Washington went 80-81 and wound up in third place in 2011.