The Indians are “evaluating” Athletics starter Sonny Gray, ESPN’s Buster Olney tweets. The extent of the Indians’ interest isn’t yet known.
Gray is in the midst of a strong season with Oakland, with a 3.69 ERA, 8.4 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 over 84 2/3 innings. Unsurprisingly, a large number of teams have been connected to Gray lately, including the Astros, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Cubs and Brewers.
The Indians’ rotation boasts a strong one-two punch this season in the form of Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, and Mike Clevinger has fared reasonably well in 11 starts this year. The rest of its starting corps, though, has been uneven — Trevor Bauer’s results have lagged behind his peripherals, and both he and Josh Tomlin have ERAs over five. Danny Salazar, meanwhile, is on a rehab assignment after missing time due to a shoulder issue.
greenarrow1150
Yeah, and we get who? Prospects, try again. lol
halos101
the return for gray would be prospects…
butternugget
That’s how it works. What’d be the point of swapping veteran studs?
hswhitak
Yes, prospects because that’s how it works. The A’s aren’t going to the postseason any time soon so you either bet on the future or let the contracts expire and get nothing. They’re not gonna trade him for a star with a big contract, and other teams aren’t interested in moving high talent low money contracts.
EndinStealth
Lmao. What do you expect to get?
ThePriceWasRight
Ok no prospects sure. you can have Austin Jackson and Erik Gonzales then
Polish Hammer
Michael Martinez and a fungo bat….
sufferforsnakes
Heck, throw in a bag of balls, too.
Ry.the.Stunner
methinks you don’t understand how trading typically works in the MLB.
JKB 2
Yes prospects. That is what you get and what you want.
JB Juiceman
Hopefully they wouldn’t have to give up Meija.
greenarrow1150
I’d say Sonny Gray for Schwarber or Happ
Philliesfan4life
I think the cubs can pull off the trade without trading Happ or Schwarber
greenarrow1150
not gonna happen unless it’s those two, Cubs depleted their farm system already. Check the story on cbs, and one just right now on MLBTR on Happ for Gray.
dodgerfan711
Who would the cubs trade then? Their farm system isn’t good enough now.
greenarrow1150
Happ or Schwarbs according to multiple sources. (cbs, sbn, mlb, and ect.)
Philliesfan4life
Cubs might be better off getting Alex Cobb
curl16
Russell ,lackey candelaria
oldleftylong
Uh, huh?
ronnsnow
When did Schwarber and Happ start playing for Cleveland?
greenarrow1150
when did Cleveland become the only team in the MLB
mattg-5
This article isn’t about the cubs.
trolofson
Tsssssss
ray_derek
Schwarber has no value and Happ isn’t going anywhere
acarneglia
Cleveland is interested in Gray and so is every other contender
madmanTX
Everybody is interested…
aussiegiants53
No doubt they are interested after he just dominated them haha! Seems like a solid fit tho
greenarrow1150
only way the Indians get Sonny is by getting Mejia/Naquin
Polish Hammer
Which Gray do you get? The 5-11 with a 5.69 ERA from last year or the guy who went 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA the year before?
greenarrow1150
the gray that destroyed Cleveland last night lol
ohiodevil 2
Wow 1 start…..
Polish Hammer
Yeah but he “destroyed” them…
sufferforsnakes
Either one is injury prone.
julyn82001
Want Gray!? entice A’s big time period!
mattl
I wonder if Bauer, Erik Gonzalez, Quentin Holmes, and Richie shaffer/Tyler naquin would do it.
I’d hope they could figure something out without letting go of McKenzie and Mejia but I don’t see how, since the going rate for quality starting pitching seems to be top two prospects.
sufferforsnakes
Four players? That’s nuts.
JB Juiceman
Maybe a combination of any of these guys: Cheng Chang, Aiken, Benson, Naquin, Urshela, Bradley, Holmes, Gonzalez?
tribefan48 2
Can’t trade someone they just drafted until a year after the draft
bigturn13
Not true. They can be traded after August. They can put them in as a player to be named later.
Henduland
All these teams have interest in Gray, but according to many of the lumpenprole Commentariat here, supply and demand doesn’t matter and all Beane can expect for Gray is middling prospects.
JKB 2
Henduland … there you go again … full of crap … no one has suggested middling prospects. No one. Its just your absurd opinion of all he top prospects and top major league players you think you will get. Everyone knows the A’s will get quality. Just because teams are not shelling out all their elite prospects does not mean the elite ones suggested are considered middling by you only
Henduland
Apparently you don’t read the comments here.
Yankee fans have suggested getting Gray for their #10 and #13 prospects.
Just shut up if you don’t know what you’re talking about.
biasisrelitive
fans can suggest anything he means real rumors. gray for seager and Kershaw. boom I offered it but that doesn’t make it realistic just like your offers. gray will bring in a slightly smaller hall than Quintana witch is a good return
Irish Astros Fan
This just in…Padres, Giants, Reds, all interested in Gray.
Mikeyz48
It looks like Sonny Gray is getting on a possible roll.
Indians Recieve:
Sonny Gray
Athletics Recieve:
#2 Triston Mckenzie RHP
#6 Will Benson OF
#15 Shawn Morimando RHP
#28 Marco Gonzalez SS
greenarrow1150
you’re high lol
sufferforsnakes
Indians won’t be giving up McKenzie.
shanedelreal12
I think Greg Allen looks like a guy the A’s would want more than Benson. He’s a CF who is probably closer to the majors.
sufferforsnakes
I can agree with that. Zimmer has him blocked now. Maybe him and Urshela start the conversation. Plus Aiken?
But Mejia and McKenzie need to be off limits.
rycm131
Aiken at this point would be a sweetener at best. Numbers have been rough.
jayceincase
Greg Allen makes lots of sense. Paired with Bobby Bradley and Gonzalez or Aiken could work. Maybe both. Unfortunately, my money is that they can get a better deal elsewhere if neither Mejia nor McKenzie are a part of an offer. I’d consider McKenzie, but not Mejia. As much as I like McKenzie, he is just at A-ball and has a 170-pound frame.
Polish Hammer
No way they give up McKenzie and Benson for Gray. One yes, but not both, and build the package around them.
sufferforsnakes
By the way, Morimondo is a LHP.
sufferforsnakes
***Morimando
ReverieDays
It must suck being an A’s fan. Your GM never tries to win, always trades your best players, and when your prospects get good, he trades them too.
rycm131
Or takes a bunch of prospects no one else thinks are good. (ie: Joe Wendell)
sufferforsnakes
I actually liked Joey Wendle.
Michael Chaney
I have no idea if this is a fair offer or not, so someone please give me feedback…the Indians get Gray and Rajai Davis for Bobby Bradley, Tyler Naquin, Adam Plutko, and Willi Castro. Any thoughts?
sufferforsnakes
Uh…….no?
Michael Chaney
Care to elaborate?
sufferforsnakes
We have no need for Rajai. If we did, he would have been re-signed. Plus, have you seen his stats this season? Ugh.
Michael Chaney
I agree that his stats aren’t pretty but everyone seemed to love him and his base stealing was appreciated. Plus as a 5th outfielder/depth guy, I’m in. Naquin is damaged goods to me but he can probably help someone else and he probably still has value around the league, Bradley is strictly a first baseman and there’s no glaring issue with him but you obviously need someone to headline a deal, Castro is gonna be a good player but it probably can’t be in Cleveland, and Plutko is the type of major league ready starting depth the A’s seem to love. Plus they’d probably love to get rid of Rajai’s money, so I could imagine that knocking the price down a little.
sufferforsnakes
What was Rajai’s OBP going into yesterday’s game, something like .270?
Can’t steal bases if you can’t get on base. Plus, he’s only signed through this season, so you’d be losing prospects for a rental? I’ll pass.
You say Naquin is damaged goods, but that he’d still have value? How’s that work? He is perfect depth for the Tribe, since Jackson is probably gone after this season.
Bradley has one major glaring issue—he strikes out. Lots! But losing him wouldn’t bother me, with Schaffer able to cover 1B, among other things. Maybe we could pawn off Nellie Rodriguez?
You’re right about Castro. I can’t see him ever in Cleveland. But Chang is a bit more enticing to other teams. Brewers tried to get him last year.
And Plutko? We also need MLB-ready starters, but if he could be used…..
Michael Chaney
Naquin is damaged goods to me, but I’m more down on him than other people are. Someone else could see him as a starting quality player, but I’m just not too much a fan of him. Bradley strikes out a lot but for his profile it’s pretty acceptable, I just don’t like relying on first base prospects and someone will bite on his power. (Nellie Rodriguez has absolutely no value at all, and he’s been *completely* overmatched in AAA. I’d be okay including Chang instead of Castro, so in that regard it would be up to them. And Plutko could be depth for the Indians, but he could be depth for any other team as well. Name an ideal scenario in which he’s on the mound in a game for the Indians.
Bruin1012
There is no question Gray is going to cost look at what the White Sox received for Q and that is about what Gray is going to cost maybe just slightly less. I am pretty sure someone is going to pay the freight and he will be moved by the deadline.
AngelFan69
Billy has made it clear that he wants 3-4 top prospects for Gray … nothing less … Unless Yobu can come up with a good package … is not gonna happen…
Polish Hammer
Not gonna happen. Two good prospects but not going to bring 3 or 4 too prospects.