As his free agency dragged into mid-March, Gio Gonzalez chose the Yankees because, well, he had nowhere else to go.

The veteran lefty told reporters Wedneday morning that the deal he accepted with the Yankees is the only offer he received. Gonzalez's one-year, minor-league deal carries a base salary of $3 million and he can earn $300,000 for every MLB start, with a maximum possible value of $12 million.

"They gave me something I couldn't turn down," Gonzalez said, per MLB.com. "I was like, 'Let's do this. Let's go to work.' I can't be ungrateful. This is a pretty great opportunity."

Gonzalez, 33, said he recently threw 88 pitches in a simulated game and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Thursday.

With Luis Severino out until at least May with rotator cuff inflammation and CC Sabathia out the first couple of weeks as he works his way back from a heart procedure and knee surgery, Gonzalez may very well open the season in the Yankees' rotation if they don't prefer in-house options such as Jonathan Loaisiga or Domingo German.

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