Nationals pick up 2017 option on Gonzalez, decline Petit

WASHINGTON (AP) The Nationals have exercised their $12 million option on left-hander Gio Gonzalez.

Washington also said Thursday it had declined its $3 million option for reliever Yusmeiro Petit, who gets a $500,000 buyout.

The 31-year-old Gonzalez was 11-11 with a 4.57 ERA this season, throwing 177 1/3 innings in 32 starts.

He has won at least 10 games in each of his five seasons with the Nationals, including a high of 21 in 2012.

For his career, Gonzalez is 102-77 with a 3.73 ERA with Oakland and Washington.

Petit was 3-5 with a 4.50 ERA across 62 innings, including one start and one save. He was left off Washington's roster for its NL Division Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Petit's option would have become guaranteed if he had pitched 80 innings.