Nationals need consistency from Gio Gonzalez in 2016 (Nats agree with Ryan)

Count Gio Gonzalez among those itching for the return of baseball when pitchers and catchers report in 16 days. The Nationals left-hander posted a video on his Instagram account yesterday showing off his first flat ground throwing session in 2016.

Last spring, Gonzalez showed up at Space Coast Stadium appearing noticeably heavier and joking about enjoying plenty of good Cuban food during the offseason. Followers of Gonzalez on social media know that Gonzalez appears much trimmer now after dedicating himself to fitness this winter.

Gonzalez stayed in D.C. for most of the offseason, working out at Nationals Park with head strength and conditioning coach Matt Eiden and corrective exercise specialist Joe Cancellieri.

"I want to be ready for 2016, I want to have a monster year," Gonzalez said. "I want to do whatever I can to get right back into where I belong and it's back up in the rotation and do what I can do. I think we have such a great staff and a great rotation (and) that's why it's going to be tough. Some of these guys are young, and they're getting stronger and stronger, so I just want to keep up with the current flow that's going."

While Gonzalez showed flashes of brilliance in 2015, there were also numerous rough patches. He ended up 11-8 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 31 starts.

From June 21 to Aug. 10, Gonzalez went 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA over eight starts. Those are the type of numbers that earned him back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2011 and 2012 and a third place finish in the National League Cy Young vote four seasons ago.

But Gonzalez battled control issues throughout the year, especially as his starts progressed into the middle innings. He pitched into the eighth inning only once and reached the seventh just nine times in his 31 starts as his pitch counts mounted up early.

"I definitely want to work on improving my strikeouts and staying to my game plan," Gonzalez said. "What I used to do was attack the strike zone and try not beat around the bush, go after these hitters and let them put the ball in play and let my defense help out as much as possible."

Gonzalez finished the year strong, allowing three hits over six shutout innings in a win over the Mets. Over his final six starts, Gonzalez posted a 2.38 ERA while striking out 42 and walking 16.

With right-hander Jordan Zimmerman signing with the Tigers this offseason, Gonzalez likely moves up to the Nationals' No. 3 starter in 2016 behind aces Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

"There's always something new to baseball that you can prove," Gonzalez said. "As it goes for me, I want to get better every year. It's not just content in one spot. My main goal is always (to be a) 15- to 20-game winner every year and if I'm not thinking that, it's just going to be an uphill battle."

Here's that Instagram video of Gonzalez throwing:

First flat ground of the new year #WilsonGG47 #HiALEAH #Jumpman7s #IknowYouSeeTheShirtD @denardspan thanks lil bro @jscrewgonzi for catching my first flat ground #ArmFeelsGreat @derick_g @jumpman23 @cc_sabathia52 @samir4gtg #nationals2016

A video posted by Gio Gonzalez (@giogonzalez47) on Feb 1, 2016 at 1:17pm PST

Update: The Nationals announced this afternoon that they have agreed to terms with infielder Brendan Ryan on a minor league contract that includes an invite to major league spring training. Ryan batted .229 in 47 games with the Yankees last season.