White Sox close to deal with pitcher Gio Gonzalez

The White Sox filled an offseason need by agreeing to terms with free-agent lefty Gio Gonzalez on Thursday.

The deal, which hasn’t been announced by the Sox, is believed to be for one year. A dependable starter throughout his career who was 3-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 87¹⁄₃ innings last season with the Brewers, Gonzalez, 34, will fit in at the back of the Sox’ otherwise young rotation that figures to include righties Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Dylan Cease and Michael Kopech as soon as Kopech is turned loose in the aftermath of Tommy John surgery.

Lefty Carlos Rodon, a few months behind Kopech in his return from Tommy John surgery, won’t be back till midseason.

Gonzalez, a soft tosser who relies on his changeup, went on the injured list June 1 with what Brewers manager Craig Counsell called a case of a “dead arm” that could’ve been related to his late start with the Yankees in spring training. Gonzalez returned July 20 and made 11 starts, none of them longer than five innings in August and September.

The Sox are expected to pursue another rotation piece for added depth but have offered no strong indications that they’re in the hunt for the top remaining free-agent pitchers — lefties Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dallas Keuchel.

Gonzalez was an All-Star with the Athletics in 2011 and Nationals in ’12. He was sixth in National League Cy Young voting in ’17 and owns a 3.68 ERA. From 2010 to ’18, he averaged 31 starts.

Originally drafted by the Sox 38th overall in 2004, Gonzalez was traded to the Phillies in 2005 in the Jim Thome deal. The Phils traded Gonzalez back to the Sox a year later for Freddy Garcia, but the Sox traded him again in 2008 to the A’s in a deal for Nick Swisher.

The Sox made one official move Thursday, signing free-agent corner infielder Cheslor Cuthbert to a minor-league deal with an invitation to spring training. Cuthbert, a .250/.300/.378 hitter with 27 homers in five seasons with the Royals, also can play second base.