Nationals May Sign Kyle Lohse as “Insurance” in Case Gio Gonzalez is Suspended

The Phillies' foes in the nation's capital could get stronger, in the chance they could get weaker. Fomer Phillies pitcher and unsigned Scott Boras client Kyle Lohse may find a job after all thanks to former Phillies prospect Gio Gonzalez.  With the Biogenesis scandal in Miami that named Gio Gonzalez as a customer the Nationals may be worried about their top starter of 2013 facing a 50 game suspension.

Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post today writes,

In the event Gonzalez receives a suspension, or even to prepare for the possibility, the Nationals may try to swoop in and sign free agent right-hander Kyle Lohse, who went 16-3 with a 2.86 ERA for the Cardinals last year. Lohse, 34, is represented by Scott Boras, with whom the Nationals share a strong relationship.

This is telling about how worried teams are about those named players getting suspended.  Gio Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, and Nelson Cruz could face penalties.  Despite not failing a test, Major League Baseball set a precedent by suspending Jose Guillen for receiving a shipment of PEDs.  

The scarier part would be after Gonzalez's suspension, should he have one.  The Nationals could go into the playoffs with a rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Kyle Lohse, with a dominant bullpen to boot.