OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — All-Star pitcher Gio Gonzalez said Thursday the Oakland Athletics have agreed to trade him to the Washington Nationals, and the deal is nearly finished.

“It’s 99 percent done,” Gonzalez said in a phone interview. “It’s pending a physical and I’m just waiting to hear from my agent.”

ESPN.com first reported the swap Thursday.

A person with knowledge of the deal said Oakland will receive four players, including three top prospects: right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, lefty Tom Milone and catcher Derek Norris. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday night because the trade hadn’t been finalized, also said the Nationals would receive minor league right-hander Rob Gilliam from the A’s.

Gonzalez has been the subject of trade talk all offseason. Earlier this month, the A’s traded fellow top-tier starter Trevor Cahill to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 26-year-old Gonzalez, drafted 38th overall by the Chicago White Sox in 2004, confirmed the trade to The Associated Press on Thursday. He went 16-12 last season – a career high for wins after he earned 15 victories in 2010 — with a 3.12 ERA in 32 starts and was selected to his first All-Star game. The left-hander has reached 200 innings the past two seasons.

“I love Oakland and appreciate them because they gave me a chance,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez would give the Nationals the reliable starter they’ve been seeking for two years to go along with young arms Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. General manager Mike Rizzo made it a top priority last offseason to land another talented pitcher, and came through this time.

“I think we’re an outfield bat away and a starting pitcher away from really being a contender in the division,” he said late in the 2011 season.

Gonzalez was a big reason Oakland led the AL in ERA (3.56) and shutouts (17) in 2010 while holding opponents to a .245 batting average.

The Nationals went 80-81 this year to improve to third in the NL East after three straight last-place finishes in the five-team division.

A’s general manager Billy Beane is in rebuilding mode, stockpiling talent in the farm system with the hopes of the franchise getting the go ahead to build a new ballpark some 40 miles south in San Jose despite the San Francisco Giants owning the territorial rights to technology-rich Santa Clara County. Beane and owner Lew Wolff have said they expect to hear soon from Commissioner Bud Selig – and Beane said the unsettled stadium situation would affect him being able to sign free agents this winter.

The A’s (74-88) haven’t posted a winning record or earned a playoff berth since being swept in the 2006 AL championship series by Detroit.

Beane also sent reliever Craig Breslow to the defending NL West champion Diamondbacks this month. That came after reliever Brad Ziegler was traded to Arizona in July. The A’s appear to still be open to trading All-Star closer Andrew Bailey.

Peacock made his major league debut in September, pitching in three games with two starts — winning them both — to go 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA.

Milone also was a September call-up who made his debut in the big leagues. He went 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five starts. Milone was promoted after striking out 155 batters with just 16 walks this year at Triple-A Syracuse.

Norris has good power for a catcher. He hit 20 home runs for Double-A Harrisburg.

The 19-year-old Cole went 4-7 with a 4.04 ERA last season at Class-A Hagerstown.

Gilliam, the A’s eighth-round pick in 2009, went 12-7 with a 5.04 ERA and 156 strikeouts for Class-A Vancouver this year.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (UPI) — The Oakland Athletics agreed to send left-hander Gio Gonzalez to Washington Thursday in exchange for four of the Nationals’ top prospects.

MLB.com reported the teams had completed the deal, although Gonzalez must pass a physical before the trade can become final.

Gonzalez was the ace of the Oakland staff last year, going 16-12 in 32 starts with an ERA of 3.12.

He will join a rotation in Washington that includes Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann.

Washington traded away pitching prospects Brad Peacock, Tommy Milone and A.J. Cole along with catching prospect Derek Norris.

Peacock went 15-3 last year for Class AA Harrisburg and Class AAA Syracuse. Milone was 12-6 in Syracuse.

When the Oakland Athletics arrive in Dallas on Monday for the start of Major League Baseball’s annual winter meetings, there will be much anticipation surrounding which cornerstone players they might deal.

General manager Billy Beane is beginning another rebuilding phase, and it’s been widely reported that he’s discussed trades involving two-time All-Star closer Andrew Bailey and left-handed starter Gio Gonzalez, the team’s lone All-Star in 2011.

“I think we’re definitely going to be open-minded,” Beane said. “We’re going to be somewhat all ears. I don’t think we’ve made a commitment to (trading veterans), but I think we have to be open-minded on anything.”

He wouldn’t confirm whether he’s willing to part with Gonzalez or Bailey, but his refusal to deny it speaks volumes.

With the A’s anticipating word from baseball commissioner Bud Selig on whether they can build a new ballpark in San Jose – speculation is that a decision could come in January – Beane’s plan is to restock with young players, thinking they would be ready to flourish once a new ballpark is opened, whenever that may be.

“That’s the word on the street, that the A’s are going to go young and maybe add to the minor league system as well as add at the major league level – go young and (cost) controllable,” said one major league scout who requested anonymity.

A’s fans are familiar with this storyline.

Following the 2007 season, Oakland dealt All-Star pitcher Dan Haren and fan-favorite first baseman/outfielder Nick Swisher, netting the A’s nine prospects. Trades of veteran pitchers Rich Harden and Joe Blanton followed, bringing more prospects.

Among the players obtained in those trades were Gonzalez, a top-of-the-rotation starter; Ryan Sweeney, a serviceable outfielder; and Fautino De Los Santos, a hard-throwing reliever who projects as a potential closer.

Other prospects obtained have yet to bring a return.

First baseman Chris Carter has a .167 batting average with 41 strikeouts in 39 major league games.

Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez was included in a November 2008 trade with Colorado that brought Matt Holliday to Oakland. Gonzalez has since won a batting title with the Rockies.

The A’s dealt Holliday to St. Louis in July 2009 for a package that included first baseman Brett Wallace, who was eventually flipped for outfielder Michael Taylor.

Taylor, like Carter, has yet to become the impact hitter the A’s envisioned.

The jury remains out on left-hander Brett Anderson – received in the Haren trade – who has made just 62 starts in three seasons because of elbow problems. Anderson is recovering from Tommy John surgery and figures to miss much of 2012.

Pulling the trigger on a deal is one thing. Scoring with the players you get is another.

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The Sports Network

Gio Gonzalez pitched eight stellar innings for his first win in more than a month, and the Oakland Athletics held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 on Saturday night.
Brandon Allen had two hits and scored the go-ahead run on a double play in the fourth inning while Josh Willingham homered as part of a three-run eighth for Oakland, which has won four of five at home after getting swept in a four-game series by Texas.
Eric Thames had two hits and scored the only run for Toronto, which played without slugger Jose Bautista. Bautista, who leads the majors with 35 home runs, was a late scratch with tightness in his neck.
One day after Rich Harden and Andrew Bailey combined on a three-hitter, Gonzalez (10-11) and Bailey nearly duplicated it. The duo allowed only four hits and teamed up to retire 25 of the final 27 Toronto batters.
Gonzalez, in particular, was very sharp and ended his personal five-game losing streak after getting off to a rough start.
Oakland’s All-Star left-hander allowed a one-out single to Thames in the first and hit designated hitter Adam Lind two batters later. Edwin Encarnacion then lined a single to right to drive in Thames, who beat the throw home from David De Jesus.
Colby Rasmus followed with a walk to load the bases but Gonzalez retired Brett Lawrie on a foul pop-up to first to work out of it.
Toronto, held to three hits a night earlier, didn’t get much else after that. Gonzalez gave up a leadoff single to Thames in the third then retired the next 15 straight until John McDonald’s leadoff single in the eighth.
McDonald was sacrificed to second but Gonzalez — who hadn’t won since July 17 — fanned Thames and Yunel Escobar to end the inning. Gonzalez finished with one walk and nine strikeouts.
Toronto starter Henderson Alvarez (0-1) took the loss despite a solid effort.
He allowed three consecutive hits in the bottom of the first, including Hideki Matsui’s tying RBI single, then retired eight of the next nine until the A’s scored an unearned run in the fourth.
Allen singled and took third after Toronto second baseman McDonald committed an error on Ryan Sweeney’s grounder. Allen then scored the go-ahead run when David De Jesus hit into a 4-6-3 double play.
Alvarez, who made his major league debut against Oakland on Aug. 10, kept it close and got some help from Toronto’s defense.
In addition to making the relay to first on the double play, Escobar saved a run in the sixth when he stopped Landon’s Powell’s sharp grounder up the middle and made a backhand throw to McDonald, who barely beat De Jesus to the bag at second.
Alvarez left after allowing seven hits with three strikeouts and one walk over six innings.
Oakland scored three times in the eighth to break open the close game. Willingham capped the outburst with a two-run pinch-hit home run, his 22nd homer of the season.
It was a painful night all around for the Blue Jays.
Bautista took batting practice and was in the lineup batting third before he was removed. The announcement was made less than 10 minutes before the first pitch.
Mike McCoy replaced Bautista in right field and hit in the leadoff spot.
Toronto later lost Lind, who was hit just above his right wrist by a pitch from Gonzalez. No word was given on his condition.
Notes: Less than a week after tearing his left hamstring, injured Blue Jays OF Rajai Davis has started running in Florida. Manager John Farrell continues to be hopeful that Davis can rejoin the team this season, though he acknowledged that the tear was “significant.” … SS Adeiny Hechavarria, one of Toronto’s top minor league prospects, hit safely in his first eight games with Triple-A Las Vegas and went into Saturday batting .529 with one home run and five RBIs. … RHP Guillermo Moscoso (6-6) pitches for Oakland on Sunday and will try to extend his personal winning streak to a career-best three games. His only win against Toronto came in relief on Aug. 11. … LHP Luis Perez (2-2) makes his first career start for the Blue Jays, five days after throwing 61 pitches over four innings of relief and getting the win against Seattle.

OAKLAND, Calif. —

Brandon Allen has had a pretty good couple of days since making his AL debut. The Oakland Athletics haven’t benefited from them yet.

Allen got three hits for the second straight day but the Athletics failed to hold a lead and fell to the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 on Monday night, their fourth straight loss.

David DeJesus doubled home a run and scored on Cliff Pennington’s single for the A’s, who have dropped four straight.

“It’s part of the game,” Allen said. “We got some good at-bats but their pitcher seemed to bear down when he felt a threat. Unfortunately they got the key hits and we didn’t.”

The Orioles managed only two hits off Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-11) through the first six innings before scoring four times in the seventh.

“It was a positive outing,” said Gonzalez, who lost his fifth straight start. “I took a stride forward. My luck is turning a little bit and I just want to stay positive.”

Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds both homered to help the Orioles begin a 10-game road trip with a victory following a 3-7 homestand.

Robert Andino hit a go-ahead bases-loaded double in the seventh inning and Josh Bell added a two-run single

Adam Jones and Vladimir Guerrero both singled before Gonzalez walked Wieters to load the bases. After a strikeout, Andino greeted reliever Fautino De Los Santos with a deep double over the head of center fielder Coco Crisp to drive in Jones and Guerrero.

Bell, batting only .143 coming into the game, followed with a bouncing single up the middle. Wieters and Andino both scored easily to make it 5-2.

“The seventh inning was a problem,” A’s manager Bob Melvin. “Based on how he pitched leading up to that it looks like Gio is righting the ship.”

It’s only Baltimore’s fourth win in its last 18 games on the road. The Orioles also won for just the second time in 14 games at the Oakland Coliseum since the start of the 2008 season.

Tommy Hunter (2-2) allowed two runs over 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win with Baltimore. The right-hander, who struck out three and walked one, had been winless in two starts since being acquired in a trade from Texas on July 30.

He also got help from the Orioles defense, which turned a double play in the second inning. Wieters also threw out Jemile Weeks trying to steal, the 28th runner the Baltimore catcher has caught this season.

Hunter allowed 10 hits and improved to 5-0 in six career starts against the A’s.

Oakland, outscored 23-8 while getting swept in a three-game series by Texas over the weekend, lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell a season-low 15 games under .500.

Gonzalez gave up four runs and four hits while walking three to raise his majors-leading total to 72.

The A’s strung together four consecutive hits in the bottom of the inning to go in front.

Josh Willingham singled and scored on DeJesus’ double to left center. Allen followed with a base hit before Cliff Pennington’s RBI single gave Oakland a 2-1 lead.

It stayed that way until Baltimore scored four times in the seventh.

Reynolds, who had been in a 1 for 28 slump with 14 strikeouts, homered off Trystan Magnuson in the ninth.

Notes: The A’s set an Oakland record with their 92nd consecutive game with two home runs or fewer. … A’s manager Bob Melvin expects Conor Jackson to be out a few days after the first baseman woke up with a sore neck. … Baltimore IF Chris Davis was not in the starting lineup in order to rest a sore shoulder. … Baltimore 3B Josh Bell underwent a CAT scan on his left side which proved negative. … LHP Brian Matusz (1-4) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start for Baltimore on Tuesday night. Matusz had a 0.56 ERA in his last two starts in the minors. RHP Guillermo Moscoso (5-6) will go for the Athletics.

OAKLAND (CBS / AP) — Robert Andino hit a go-ahead bases-loaded double in the seventh inning, Josh Bell added a two-run single and the Baltimore Orioles picked up a rare victory on the road with a 6-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night.

Tommy Hunter (2-2) allowed two runs over 6 2-3 innings to earn his first win with Baltimore. The right-hander, who struck out three and walked one, had been winless in two starts since being acquired in a trade from Texas on July 30.

Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds both homered to help the Orioles begin a 10-game road trip with a victory following a 3-7 homestand.

David DeJesus doubled and scored while Brandon Allen added three hits for the A’s, who have dropped four straight.

The Orioles managed only two hits off Oakland left-hander Gio Gonzalez (9-11) through the first six innings before scoring four times in the seventh.

Adam Jones and Vladimir Guerrero both singled before Gonzalez walked Wieters to load the bases. After a strikeout, Andino greeted reliever Fautino De Los Santos with a deep double over the head of center fielder Coco Crisp to drive in Jones and Guerrero.

Bell, batting only .143 coming into the game, followed with a bouncing single up the middle. Wieters and Andino both scored easily to make it 5-2.

It’s only Baltimore’s fourth win in its last 18 games on the road. The Orioles also won for just the second time in 14 games at the Oakland Coliseum since the start of the 2008 season.

Hunter, 1-1 as a reliever for Texas before being traded to Baltimore as part of the trade that sent pitcher Koji Uehara to the Rangers, pitched with runners on base in every inning but kept the damage to a minimum.

He also got help from the Orioles defense, which turned a double play in the second to end an Oakland threat. Wieters also threw out Jemile Weeks trying to steal, the 28th runner the Baltimore catcher has caught this season.

Hunter allowed 10 hits and improved to 5-0 in six career starts against the A’s.

Michael Gonzalez pitched 1 1-3 innings and Kevin Gregg worked the ninth.

Oakland, outscored 23-8 while getting swept in a three-game series by Texas over the weekend, lost for the sixth time in seven games and fell a season-low 15 games under .500.

Gonzalez took his fifth straight loss, giving up four runs and four hits while walking three to raise his majors-leading total to 72.

Wieter’s hit a 1-2 pitch from Gonzalez off the green cement facing high above the wall in center field with two outs in the second. The home run was Wieter’s 11th of the season and first since July 17.

The A’s strung together four consecutive hits in the bottom of the inning to go in front.

Josh Willingham singled and scored on DeJesus’ double to left center. Allen followed with a base hit before Cliff Pennington’s RBI single gave Oakland a 2-1 lead.

It stayed that way until Baltimore scored four times in the seventh.

Reynolds, who had been mired in a 1-for-28 slump with 14 strikeouts, homered off Trystan Magnuson in the ninth.

Notes: The A’s set an Oakland record with their 92nd consecutive game with two home runs or fewer. … A’s manager Bob Melvin expects Conor Jackson to be out a few days after the first baseman woke up with a sore neck. … Baltimore INF Chris Davis was not in the starting lineup in order to rest a sore shoulder. … 3B Josh Bell underwent a CAT scan on his left side which proved negative. … LHP Brian Matusz (1-4) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start for Baltimore on Tuesday night. Matusz, who carried a 0.56 ERA in his last two starts in the minors, is 2-2 lifetime against Oakland. RHP Guillermo Moscoso (5-6) will go for the Athletics.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

37.752653
-122.197001

C.J. Wilson has high standards. Pitching seven effective innings
didn’t satisfy the Texas Rangers All-Star left-hander.

Wilson allowed four runs and five hits with eight strikeouts,
and got early support from Mike Napoli’s first-inning grand slam
off Gio Gonzalez as the Rangers stretched their winning streak to
five games with an 8-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday
night, a night after a fan was killed in a fall while catching a
foul ball.

Wilson (9-3) won his fifth straight decision to tie Alexi Ogando
for the team lead in wins, but he was critical of himself for
allowing three walks and hitting a batter, saying, “I should have
been dominant.”

Still, Wilson played a pivotal role as the Rangers matched their
second-longest winning streak of the season.

“I’m disappointed in myself for the line score but I’m happy for
the team for the win,” said Wilson, who did think he had a live
fastball. “It was like the hardest I’ve thrown all year,” he
said.

Josh Hamilton, who tossed the ball to the fan on Thursday night,
hit a fan with a foul ball off his bat in the sixth inning. The
teenage male fan had blood on his face and was tended to by stadium
personnel before he walked away, smiling while he held a compress
to his head.

Rangers officials said the fan was treated at the stadium and
was OK. They didn’t identify him or provide additional details.

“I saw it happen,” Hamilton said. “Again.”

Hamilton said the fan didn’t appear to be paying attention to
the field when the ball struck him.

Both teams were still dealing with the aftermath of the death of
the fan from a 20-foot fall in the second inning of Thursday
night’s 6-0 Texas victory.

“You have a job to do,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Both sides
are equal there. We both had heavy hearts. That’s moot. Both teams
had to deal with it.”

Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone tumbled over a railing after
catching a foul ball tossed into the stands by Hamilton.

Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre also homered off Gonzalez (8-6),
Oakland’s lone All-Star.

Hamilton was in the starting lineup despite the emotional 24
hours, going 1 for 5.

Before the game, the teams observed a moment of silence in
Stone’s memory. Both teams wore black ribbons on their uniform
tops.

The temperature at first pitch was 105 degrees, highest in the
18-year history of Rangers Ballpark.

The A’s have lost five of seven.

Gonzalez had few answers for a slugging Rangers lineup that has
outscored opponents 44-16 during the five-game winning streak. He
lasted a season-low four innings, giving up seven runs _ only three
earned _ and seven hits.

Gonzalez consistently fell behind hitters, and he had to throw
fastballs when he didn’t want to.

“In situations where I had to go after them, I had to pitch in
their count,” Gonzalez said. “You have to get ahead of these guys.
Got to pound that strike zone. It’s a good lineup, especially in
this ballpark. You’ve got to give credit where credit is due and
these guys are a good hitting team.”

Gonzalez entered the night with a 4-1 record and 2.18 ERA in
nine career appearances against the Rangers. Gonzalez had good
fortune on his side in his previous start at Texas on May 11 when
he gave up seven runs in 2 2-3 innings, but the game was postponed
by heavy rain.

The Rangers jumped on Gonzalez with a five-run first highlighted
by Napoli’s third career grand slam.

Texas scored the game’s first run when Oakland shortstop Adam
Rosales made a fielding error on Beltre’s hot grounder. Michael
Young reached on an infield single that rolled just inside the
third base foul line to load the bases, and after Nelson Cruz
struck out, Napoli ripped Gonzalez’s first pitch into the left
field seats for his 12th homer of the season.

Oakland’s Scott Sizemore hit a solo homer in the second, the
first long ball allowed by Wilson since Tampa Bay’s Matt Joyce on
May 31, a span of 44 1-3 innings.

The Rangers continued the power display in the second on
bases-empty homers by Kinsler and Beltre for a 7-1 advantage.

Oakland’s first three hitters reached in the fourth on two walks
and a single, and Coco Crisp scored from third on Conor Jackson’s
double-play grounder to make it 7-2.

Yorvit Torrealba’s RBI single in the fifth restored Texas’
six-run lead.

The A’s cut the deficit to 8-4 in the sixth on Crisp’s RBI
infield single and Josh Willingham’s run-scoring double, but Wilson
struck out the final three batters in the inning.

Notes: The previous record temperature at Rangers Ballpark was
103 in 2008. … Napoli had Texas’ second grand slam of the season.
Beltre hit one on April 2 vs. Boston. Mitch Moreland also had a
bases-loaded homer on May 11, but the stats were washed away by the
rainout. …Major League Baseball announced that Beltre will be the
AL starter at 3B because Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees is out of
the game.

© 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.