Left-hander Gio Gonzalez on Thursday said the Washington Nationals have agreed to acquire him in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, pending a physical and the deal being finalized.

“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.”

http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;...athleticstrade

ESPN.com first reported the swap Thursday.

Gonzalez has been the subject of trade talk all offseason by the A’s, who on Dec. 9 traded fellow top-tier starter Trevor Cahill to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 26-year-old Gonzalez, a first-round draft pick taken 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 getting 15 victories in 2010—with a 3.12 ERA in 32 starts and was selected to his first All-Star game. He reached 200 innings the past two seasons.

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

The A’s reportedly will receive four players in the swap, including three top prospects: right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, lefty Tom Milone and catcher Derek Norris.

This is not a rebuild anymore for the A's. They are the only team that consistently tries to get worse.