After erratic 2016, González seeks All-Star berth and consistency

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Upon reporting for spring training earlier this month, Gio González went into Dusty Baker's office to say hi to his manager. The left-hander also wanted to make clear his motivation for the coming season.

González told Baker his goal is to be an All-Star in 2017. Selfishly, because the Midsummer Classic is being played in Miami (González's hometown) but also because he knows he can still be the kind of elite pitcher he was when he first arrived in D.C. five years ago.

"I want to be an All-Star every year," the lefty said. "But it would be nice to make a short trip down to South Florida this year and be around my entire family, if god-willing I make it. But I told Dusty that was a big goal in what I want to do this year, to focus and compete at a high level and try to make the All-Star team. Right now, I just want to snap out of this little funk I'm in. I want to get back to where I belong. I really want to do something this year."

Few pitchers the Nationals have had in recent seasons have been as confounding as González, who on any given night can look like a Cy Young Award contender or get yanked in the fourth inning with his pitch count approaching triple digits.

Last season was a microcosm of it all. Through his first eight starts, González was 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA and issued only 2.4 walks per nine innings. Then came a ragged stretch of nine starts in which he went 1-7 with a 7.66 ERA and issued more than four walks per nine innings. Then he returned to form over his next 10 starts, going 6-1 with a 3.02 ERA before laboring through September with a 7.43 ERA in five starts.

Put it all together and you get an 11-11 record, 4.57 ERA and plenty of frustration for everyone involved.

"There was some good things," González said. "There was a streak when I was staying at a good, consistent pace of going 6-7 innings with some extra strikeouts. But you can't really explain why. It's just how you feel that day, to be honest with you. You just have to try to stay as healthy, focused and relaxed as possible. It's a lot easier said than done, but we'll see how it goes."

The Nationals didn't have to bring González back this season. They had the option to pick up or decline his $12 million option.

In the end, they saw value in keeping a 31-year-old left-hander who, if nothing else, has a proven track record of durability. González has made at least 31 starts in six of the last seven seasons. The only other lefties in the majors who can also claim that are Jon Lester, Madison Bumgarner, David Price, Cole Hamels and Mark Buehrle (who retired after the 2015 season).

That's a particular source of pride for González, who aside from a minor shoulder injury in 2014 has never dealt with any arm trouble since joining the Nationals in 2012.

"Exactly. I'm going to give you the best I can every five days," he said. "I have great communication with the training staff. I take pride in being durable, knowing I can take the mound every time they ask and give them a chance to win."

The Nationals would love for González to make 30 more starts this season. (If he reaches the 180-inning plateau, by the way, his $12 million option for 2018 automatically vests.)

More than that, they'd love for him to find the consistency that eluded him last year. If he can do that, he might just get his wish and spend his All-Star break wearing a curly W cap at Marlins Park.

"I hope he does, but I told him that shouldn't be his primary motivation," Baker said. "I just told Gio he's better than a .500 pitcher with the stuff he has. Just go out and win one at a time. But I like goal-setting people. It's better than not having a goal. He's a big piece of this puzzle for us. So I'm hoping that Gio has the best year of his life. And if he comes close to the All-Star that he once was, we'll all be happy."