Sonny Gray’s tenure with the Yankees hasn’t panned out nearly as well as the organization had hoped, and general manager Brian Cashman candidly told reporters Friday that he plans to explore trade scenarios this offseason (Twitter link via Newsday’s David Lennon). “We’re entering the winter open-minded to relocation,” Cashman said of Gray. “…It’s probably best to try somewhere else.”
It’s highly atypical to see a baseball executive display that level of candor when discussing a potential trade of a player, but the writing has been on the wall for quite some time now. Gray was dropped from the team’s rotation amid considerable struggles this summer, and the Yankees didn’t carry him on their postseason roster.
Acquired in a high-profile trade that sent Dustin Fowler, Jorge Mateo and James Kaprielian to the Athletics in July 2017, Gray gave the Yankees 65 1/3 innings of 3.72 ERA ball down the stretch that season. He was far more homer-prone than he’d been in Oakland — perhaps to be expected given the radical shift in his home park — but the 2018 season was an ugly one for Gray. In 130 1/3 innings this season, he posted a 4.90 ERA with a career-worst 3.94 BB/9 mark and a career-high eight hit batters.
To his credit, Gray notched an 8.49 K/9 mark, maintained the velocity on his fastball (93.3 mph average), generated a solid 10.1 percent swinging-strike rate and induced grounders at a characteristically strong 50 percent clip. Nearly all of his struggles were confined to pitching at Yankee Stadium, where he turned in a ghastly 6.98 ERA and allowed 11 home runs in 59 1/3 innings. When pitching away from the Bronx, Gray logged a strong 3.17 ERA and yielded just three homers in 71 innings of work.
That home/road disparity, paired with Gray’s track record and relative youth — he’ll turn 29 in November — should make him a popular buy-low candidate for teams looking to supplement their rotation. He’s only controlled for one more season and comes with a projected arbitration salary of $9.1MM (courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz). However, Gray entered the 2018 season with a career 3.45 ERA and peripheral stats that largely backed up that mark. The former No. 18 overall draft pick was an All-Star in 2015 and finished third in American League Cy Young voting that season when he tossed 208 innings (his second consecutive 200-inning season) with a 2.73 ERA, 7.3 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9. He dealt with shoulder and forearm issues in 2016-17 but has avoided the disabled list in his time with the Yankees.
Yankee fans be like:
A top 10 prospect, a top 50, and you take Ellsbury’s whole contract for Sonny Gray.
Lol
Haha I came for that kind of comment, glad it was first
same
I’d take Dustin Fowler over Sonny Gray.
Fowler hit 224 and just in case you anyone’s wondering about the other 2 Mateo hit 230 with 25 SB 10 CS 139 SO
Kaprielian hasn’t thrown a game since April of 2016 and only threw 6 games in the minors.
Oh and just in case anyone’s unaware Gray was taking private lessons with Rothschild throughout the whole season. Anyone who doesn’t believe me can search it up themselves.
That is his pitching coach. He doesn’t have to take private lessons with him.
Well, they did do some violin and vocal training afterwards, so they can still technically be private lessons.
As a Yankees fan, I’d take a bag of potato chips for him
Mets.
Let Callaway and Eiland work with him.
Like many things Yankees, Rothschild is highly overrated….and Boone has absolutely no clue.
Vargas for Grey… Grey makes a bit more but is younger… Vargas might be ok as a lefty in Yankee Stadium but I doubt it
Nailed it
Mariners will offer 2 bags of chip and a 20 oz beer
Craft beer or no deal.
And trout as ptbnl.
Go get him AA
For what? I like Gray and think he’s a good bet to turn it around but we’re at a very similar crossroads with Teheran it seems and really don’t have much of a need for a buy low rotation candidate.
Could probably swap Gray and Julio straight up
I was just bout to say that then I seen your comment. I wouldn’t mind either
I was about to say that. just swap those two straight up. might become a win win scenario for both.
Except Julio was good this year, his baa was great. He gives up some HR’s, but they’re typically solo shots.
He’s not going to be traded straight up for Gray.
Atlanta could take him from NYY for a 100-150 prospect and the contract
Teheran 4.8 FIP. Gray 4.13 FIP. There’s no significant prospect changing hands here. If that deal happens it’s a 1 for 1.
I disagree, Gray is fantastic away from yankee stadium, at yankee stadium his stats are inflated. If anything gray had a better season than tehran, and tehran would give up more HRs at yankee stadium.
I am sure there will be a bunch of teams looking to buy low on Sonny. The Yankees won’t get much for him, definitely not anywhere close to what they gave up but I definitely think there will be some interest.
Somewhere Jeff Weaver is laughing out loud.
Cardinals should trade Jose Martinez for Gray straight up.
Yankees don’t have a need for Jose Martinez.
That’s a yankee fan here
I agree
Rangers could definitely use him.. He’d become the best pitcher on their staff.
My thoughts exactly. Maybe he’d bounce back and not be another Matt Moore.
Sonny’s a southern boy. Probably just never mentally adapted to New York (we of the older generation refer to it as “Ed Whitson Syndrome”). I’m willing to bet that, although he’s hardly Cy Young material, he will fare better with a different team.
Ha. Or Steve Trout.
Its more about the Yankees no fastball philosophy and Gray being a Fastball first pitcher.
Padres will be all over this
And they should. What do they have to lose bringing him back to the west coast in a non pressurized situation? He can’t be much worse than what we’ve seen come through the doors here in the past few seasons.
He can’t cost much more than a package of UTL Corey Spangenberg and a flier prospect like 2015 second rounder SP Austin Smith.
Why not?
How about straight up for Buddy Reed?
SMH. Do you want Fernando Tatis Jr as well?
How is Buddy Reed even close to Tatis Jr?
Take a look at his Stats..WTF
you’re not getting Buddy Reed.
Well then, you aren’t getting Sonny Gray!
News flash guy, you don’t have a say.
You got Tatis for free so shut up maybe those White Sox deserves him more than anyone
He could help the White Sox for one year till Dylan Cease is ready
Lol did I ever say I wanted Sonny Gray? Keep your own trash. We have plenty in mediocre starting pitching.
I don’t want Sonny Gray you idiot
Again you don’t have a say imbecile..see anyoycan stoop to your childish level.
*anyone can*
i’d trade buddy reed for sonny gray straight up, and i’m more of a gator fan than i am a padre fan.
You mad idiot? You’re dreaming if the Padres are giving up Buddy Reed for your trash
Look everyone the spokesperson for the Padres just weighed in. FYI your whole organization is trash.
I love how angry all you idiots get every time a Padre fan comments here. At least I live in Paradise. You’re city is trash.
Is paradise your mommy’s basement?
There’s no basement In my mommy’s house. I don’t live in garbage 1940s house like you do.
Living in your 97 Saturn ain’t paradise bruh..,
Your capitalization of “paradise” and “in” are interesting choices.
Another smart ass Yankee fan…
Another lonely Padres fan. How them Chargers doing?
Maybe the Padres would take Gray if the Yankees threw in Bird. Padres seem to like underachieving 1B’s. They could move Bird to play second with Myers at third.
The only angry person I see here calling people idiots and imbeciles is you. Not Cereal or the rest of the responses. Simmer down, it wasn’t an unreasonable ask.
And if you’re going to call someone an idiot, make sure you’re using the correct your. You had a 50/50 chance.
That “trash” has a 3.15 ERA outside Yankee Stadium and is better than every starter in San Diego.
That is a pretty bold ask. Reed tore up High A his first time there and is tearing up the AZL Fall League. His .271/.319/.435/.754 line in 2018, his 2nd full pro season, is pretty good. The Yankees are just going to have to settle for some lower level prospects or a backup MLB player for Gray.
I agree completely. 1 year, $9 mil…good ballpark, environment, and pitching coach to bounce back with…a bridge to (hopefully) some more talented rotation pieces hitting around 2020. Also plenty of depth from which to trade.
Ordinarily I’d be against trading for a rental but Gray would make for an intriguing buy-low option and if Balsley can do what he usually does Preller should be able to flip Gray at the deadline for more than he gave up.
He would be a great fit and Padres and makes total sense for them.
…so it ends for ed whitson..oh wait..steve trout…no..javier vasquez…no jeff weaver…
Kevin Brown….Randy Johnson…..the list kinda keeps going
Dont forget aj Burnett
Not really Hyman-AJ actually contributed to the 2009 WS winner. The others were mistakes, which you only make when you are willing to try to get better.
Witout AJ Burnett, there is no 2009 WS. Other than the fact he compromised 33% of rotation, he pitched a gem to even series 1-1, instead 0-2.
His yankee exit wasn’t graceful however.. Burnett’s a fascinating case. Really enjoyed his Yankee stay; fave guy who stood up for his team
Billy Beane would like to remind everyone that the CBA specifically states “no takesy backsies.”
It would be awesome if he went back to the A’s for way less than the Yankees gave up to get him and had a great season.
Keep dreaming.
Doesn’t sound like a dream. You’d essentially be dumping a depressed stock at pennies on the dollar. That depressed stock could sink further, or it could regain it’s luster.
What IS clear from reading NYY fans about Gray on social media is that his time with the Yankees is over. It didn’t work out, and the “relationship” between Gray and the fans in New York seems to be at a point beyond salvaging.
So, why not Oakland?
NYY would deal him last to Oakland because it would make the trade look even worse. Even though none of the players the A’s got has worked out for the A’s. Gray is a pitcher so they will get something for him but not a top prospect.
Exactly. The A’s won’t be the only team interested in him. You wanna give Fowler back then the Yanks would do it.
And comes back to finally beat them in the Wild Card game
A’s are gonna be dormant for awhile.
Because the Yankees did real well against Boston.
Losing the division and the ALDS in 4 was really impressive
Did better than the A’s so why are you even talking? Back to 4th place next year for Oakland!
Cause evidently he’s a Jabroni.
Trade him to the Brewers for Chase Anderson and Thames
You really shouldn’t joke like that, people might take you seriously
Nothing wrong with that offer I would even give them Anderson, Wilkerson, and Thames for Gray because that would even open two 40 man roster spots for the Brewers which they will need for a couple young guys like Derby, Erceg, Brown and Ozlack to be protected
Take Dexter Fowler and the Cards eat part of his contract.
This honestly makes too much sense to actually happen
I’d love it, but you’re right probably wont happen.
Yep. The Yankees have their abundance of OFers, but there could be a 3 team route to be taken. Like Fowler to Seattle, Seager to New York and Gray to St. Louis.
Just spitballing, but there’s probably a third team out there to make something work.
Works for me.
Cards would just deal Fowler straight to Seattle for seager. They need him over Gray. Fowler is not going to Seattle though. Highly doubt he waves his NTC
It was a spitball, not a “this is what needs to happen” statement.
The Cards definitely need a 3rd baseman with power, but their lefty starters are Gomber and a dream. So if they are willing to re-sign Waino, which they did, then a flyer on Gray isn’t out of the question.
I would love for that to happen but I don’t think the Yankees need another outfielder…
Do the Cardinals need another starter? Yes getting rid of Fowler is a plus, but acquiring another starting pitcher doesn’t make sense!
I think it helps the Cardinals package some pitching together to get a bat. Goldy, for example, if the D’backs are thinking of moving him.
If that is their thinking…then yes this makes sense! However this move by itself doesn’t seem to make sense.
Actually I’d be surprised if Goldy is moved before the August 31st deadline.
Few trades are done in a vacuum. Almost all come with repercussions in other areas. The problem i see with acquiring Goldy is, then Carpenter either has to move back to 3rd, where he’s horrible, or has to be traded. The lineup is already very RH heavy, so trading Carpenter would make it even more so.
Don’t see it. Gray may have struggled, but can be sent away for some type of prospect, or useful piece and not a useless one owed 50m not worth 1m, such as the to be 33yo Fowler in 2019 and STILL has 50m owed over the next 3 seasons. This contract is as bad as is Ellsbury’s with less potential than if Ells is healthy.
John, thanks for a level headed post amongst the ridiculous.
That would be one of the dumbest things they could do. Take another expensive outfielder when they already have 5 MLB quality OFs on their roster? (Hicks, Judge, Stanton, Frazier, Ellsbury)
Or Jose Martinez for Gray
Repeat..Yankees don’t need Martinez!
Only way Yanks swap out Martinez for Gray is for the Cards to take the Ells contract in it’s entirety also, then those same fans trying to get Gray for their discard will start howling.
Martinez was worth 2.5 WAR last season for the mlb minimum. You really don’t know what you’re talking about.
Ok, so where are you going to play him?
Why in the world would the Yanks want a 32 yo OF who had a .576 OPS last year who is due 3/$50 mil? Put aside the fact that we can just bring back Gardner for 1/$12 or maybe have a healthy Frazier. Put aside that we can probably bring back McCutchen for a lot less than that. Or simply go after a plethora of OF vets willing to settle for a 1 year deal. You know, Gray isn’t earning anywhere near $50 mil and in fact, we can just cut him and owe him nothing since it’s his last arbitration year which means his contract for 2019 isn’t guaranteed.
Dexter Fowler forgray and elsbury. Salaries might match up
He will go to the Astros and go 20-4 with a 2.00 ERA
Yep and his pine tar rate, I mean spin rate increases by 100%
Funny I was thinking the same this that Astros will kick the tires on him
Yeah and his fastball velocity and K rate will spike through the roof like all their other pitchers somehow? Still can’t figure it out.
Looks like Rangers re-tread material. JD will be all over this
I bet rangers get him, JD already claims to be wanting to go cheap and he would be better then most of the pitchers we used this year
Oh he will for sure be a Seattle Mariner. I can see dipoto probably belting it right now seeing this. I’m ok with it really. He will do better in a smaller market. Maybe the Yankees will take 20mil aav Kyle Seager for him??
Yanks have a 3rd basebman already. Aside from being a lefty, I don’t think the Yanks would have any interest in him,
Also, why are you guys acting like Gray is a huge financial commitment? He has 1 arbitration year left and then he’s a FA. Even if the arbiters were kind towards him, I don’t see him earning more than $8 mil next year (he earned $6,500 last year). Why would they want to take on Seager and his 4/$72 mil when they have Andujar, even with his sub-par glove, for league minimum for the next 2 years before he goes into arbitration, which would probably still have him at below market costs?
No on Seager but if they are offering Dee Gordon that would make a deal.
Gordon was pretty much a contract giveaway, just like Stanton was for the NYY last winter by rookie FO man Derek Jeter at Miami and still don’t know why. Jeter was the spark plug of what little offense Miami had with speed and a slashing approach at the plate who did hit, better there than with Seattle even.
Sure, his value may be mostly tied to his legs, but he really hasn’t shown any signs of letting up, yet jeter didn’t get hardly anything in return for him and gordon showed this year is capable of playing a respectable CF, as well as his normal 2b.
Think Seattle wisely understands they stole him from the marlins and will be hanging on.
Who would want him…
Padres
first thing i thought of as well. but then i thought of the last time preller went to cashman, and how cashman bent preller over a barrel and showed him the 50 states
so either that’s a good thing. cashman knows he can swindle preller and nab a baez/naylor/franmil package in return. or it’s a bad thing, and preller learned his lesson to never deal with cashman. so i guess we’re still back at it being a 50/50 shot. i’m all for it personally. i’d love a sonny gray in this rotation, but i don’t know if i’d want to give up a the group of kids i’d expect cashman to want in return.
Gray is not going to net any one of the names you mentioned. Let alone all 3.
I’m impressed he managed to keep his season ERA below 5. Allow me to give you some Sonny Gray splits:
As a reliever, he was 2-0 with a 2.60 ERA (17.1 IP)
As a starter, he was 9-9 with a 5.26 ERA (113.0 IP)
6.26 ERA, .318 BAA, 1.90 WHIP 15 games at home!!!
3.17 ERA, .226 BAA, 1.15 WHIP 15 games away!!
There are some teams that are absolutely desperate for relatively low cost pitching and might have a contract they’d like to move as well. For Cash, it’s simply about being able to push the narrative that he was a victim of Yankee Stadium or simply NY. The facts support that.
Home: 59 IP-78 hits-11 hrs-35/45 BB/KO
Away: 71 IP-60 hits-3 hrs-22/78 BB/KO
High HR totals at YS would be understandable. His low BB/K rate and high hit/9 are NOT stadium related which makes me believe he simply has the heebee jeebees at home. If he was a rookie then maybe that would be a red flag elsewhere. Seeing that he never had such drastic splits in his career and is assumed to be healthy should bode well for a change of scenery leading to his career numbers prior to 2018.
Maybe they can get some lower level fringy prospects or a bad contract for bad contract swap of a SS, LF in need of a change of scenery?
The Angels should be on the phone already. Get him away from the bandbox in NY and into the more pitcher friendly parks of the West.
At worst, he’s a swing man/long reliever/spot starter.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Here’s some possible destinations also, Angels, Padres, Reds, and White Sox.
Gray for Matt Thaisis
Did someone say high HR totals? He sounds like an Angel already!
I think this is a perfect scenario for you the Reds. Sign Keuchel now.
trade bailey for gray, straight up
Gray for Starlin Castro.? Yankees put Castro at 2B – move Torres to SS and they are covered until Didi gets back. If Gray turns it around Marlins could get some nice prospects back at the deadline.
Castro had a WAR of 3.3 in 2018. If the Yankees wanted to get Castro back, they’d have to give up a lot more than Gray in return (Gray’s 2018 WAR: 0.6).
The Yankees are definitely selling a depressed stock.
Gray’s value is depressed, but not enough that a rebuilding team would trade assets for his rental contract in the hopes that maybe he rebounds in the first half, so they can get the pennies on the dollar that rental players bring back at the deadline. Rebuilding teams trade their rental players. They don’t trade for them.
Don’t think that’s crazy. Marlins need everything, right now, so worth the risk
How about Gray to A’s for Mateo and Yankees kick in 5M for his salary?
Gray back to the A’s is the most obvious trade there could be. Yes, Mateo could be interesting considering Didi’s injury and having depth in the middle infield for NY is probably a bigger priority now.
Why would the Yankees want Jorge Mateo back? Mateo is low average, low OBP, and not a great fielder.Mateo would not even beat out Ronald Torreyes or Tyler Wade for the 2B job. The Yankees saw what Mateo’s ceiling was and that’s why they were willing to part with him in the first place.
If the Yankees want to make a splash for a 2B they should target Whit Merrifield. He can play 2B while Didi is down and then play 1B/2B/OF when Gregorius returns. It will cost the Yankees a handful of middle/upper prospects, but they probably won’t have to part with Andujar/Frazier/Sheffield.
“Why would the Yankees want Jorge Mateo back? Mateo is low average, low OBP, and not a great fielder.”
So….. Gary Sanchez 2.0?
Gary Sanchez doesn’t have 80-grade speed
X, he’s trolling.
Gary is an 80 grade tool.
Tyler Wade is coming off a season where he had a wRC+ of 29. It’s hard to be worse than that.
My point is that even though Wade was junk, Mateo would not be any better. 80 grade speed means nothing when a player’s minor league OBP is under .300
This is a fine deal for both sides
Go get him back Billy!!!
Ship Gray and some cash to the WSox for former 1st round pick Carson Fulmer. He can take injured Kopech’s innings in a bad division. Maybe Yanks can turn Fulmer into a bullpen piece.
How about cubs for Tyler Chatwood and cash? But I think he would probably do pretty well on the South side. He would take Shields spot as the veteran on the staff
Just stop
Hamilton and RStephenson
Not bad.
Get it done Dipoto!
Braves get Frazier and Gray. Yankees get Newcomb and Gohara. Machado going to Yankees now that Didi is hurt>
I would rather have Newcomb then Gray at this stage! Yes Frazier might be nice to have, but Gohara for Frazier could possibly happen by itself!
The most the Yankees are gonna get for him is International money slot
Jerry Dipoto… paging Mr. Jerry Dipoto… please pick up the white courtesy phone for a call from Mr. Brian Cashman…
Done
I have the solution! Yankees keep and he only pitches on the road.
Angels sound like a solid spot. Change of scenery, knows the division, decent pitchers part with a solid defense.
But I don’t think he wants to miss half the season with injury.
lol
Sonny Gray would be a nice pick up for the SF Giants. Reuniting Gray with his former pitching coach from the A’s (and current Giants’ pitching coach) Curt Young might prove beneficial. Also, cavernous AT&T Park would mitigate Sonny’s propensity to give up the long ball. The Giants could offer the following arbitration players in a “sign & trade” type deal: Joe Panik, Hunter Strickland, and/or Sam Dyson.
I was thinking them too but I don’t see a match. Longoria just has too much money left on his contract and I have to think they are still high on Andujar.
Oye, don’t put ideas in Yankee fans heads. They’ll toss Gray and Frasier out there for Bum and think it’s more than a fair trade..
Cashman must have missed the class of GM 101 that taught never to dis a player you want to trade……
Gray and Elsberry to Tigers for Miggy and Zimmerman….who hangs up first?
Yankees. Miggy and Zimmerman are owed $200 mil with Miggy’s contract lasting until age 40. Considering his recent health, the last 2 years and his age is it absurd to suggest that Voit might be a better option for 2019? Not when he’s only $500k.
I think both phones would explode…
I’m sitting here reading all the comments an I can’t believe no one has mentioned the Pirates yet!! Isn’t this what the Pirates do? The Yankees give up on a starting pitcher and trade him to the Pirates, and then all of a sudden that pitcher is a borderline all-star again!
I wanted them to go after Gray at the deadline instead of Archer, but because they did get Archer it’s not likely now.
Ok well why were at it Pirates trade for Gray, and sign Moore and Harvey lol
I’m in. None of them can be any worse than Clay Holmes
Klentak might be making a phone call.
Realistically, he’s only going to bring back to the Yankees maybe two low-floor, mid-ceiling prospects. I don’t see why the Yankees would need to take on a bad contract for Gray as his ’19 paycheck is not guaranteed. For a projected $9.1m arb salary, he’s valued to be some team’s innings filler.
I actually think they will get something decent for him; certainly more than a bad contract as some above suggested, the Yankees would be better off just releasing him than that.
There are probably 20 teams that will have at least some level of interest in him.
Agreed.His age, velocity and peripherals suggest he would be much better elsewhere. It’s not just the Yankee stadium homers. His walk rate, K rate and H/9 are much higher in NY which suggests it’s the NY pressure. He could be an excellent gamble for 1/less than $10 mil.
pirates
Would like the braves to take a flier on him. Should be a cheap top 30 prospect or two. No one rated higher than #15 in our organization though
Brewers would be a great fit. Derek Johnson was his coach at Vanderbilt. Thames doesn’t have a solid spot on the roster right now and would be a great fit a yankee stadium. Maybe him and a mid-level prospect would get it done.
They wouldn’t trade him for Thames. Might trade him for Schoop.
I like that idea send Anderson, Wilkerson, and Thames to Yankees for Gray
As a Cubs fan I would happily give heyward and Chatwood and some cash to go with it….
Put Darvish and Russell in the trade too, and give the Cubs back Gleybear. Then it will be even.
Cashman’s honesty here isn’t that out of place.
I would venture to guess that the overall assumption would be that of a non-tender based on a cumulative 4.51 ERA over 195.2 innings with peripherals that don’t suggest that it isn’t a case of bad luck. Furthermore, the fact that he’s due a raise over $6.5m isn’t exactly beneficial to the Yankees.
At least in the admission that he’s available, they can get something rather than a non-tender. As an example, remember the Nationals acquisition of Derek Norris, in which they gave up Pedro Avila, who was an inconsequential minor leaguer.
Kind of makes sense for the a’s. Funnily enough. Back to a good park for him, win now team.
Jays send Russ Martin + cover the salary difference. Gives the Yanks a quality receiver to back up Sanchez, plus Russ did a respectable job at 3B, so he could be a C/3B depth option. Jays can take the risk on working Gray back to being respectable and if he comes back is trade depth for them.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Russ Martin in Milwaukee for maybe Guerra and maybe Broxton
Great buy low candidate for any team, but I’d love to see the Pirates make a play for him. They have a history of taking Yankee castoffs and getting the most out of them. A rotation of Tallion, Archer, Gray, Williams, and Musgrove would be nice. Flip Nova in another deal for a prospect/salary relief.
At this point Nova is less than a risk than Gray. I’m not against going after Gray but maybe for a prospect in AA or lower.
Sonny Gray: “I can’t imagine things going worse.”
Jacoby Ellsbury: “Hold my beer.”
Maybe Gray plus a decent pitching prospect for Jorge Soler? The money is close to even. NY gets a good cheap bat for two years and KC gets a pretty good bounce back candidate they could use to eat some innings and then flip. Since KC seems to have little incentive to move Soler, NY would have to cough up good enough prospect to make it work. Someone like Erik Swanson or Nolan Martinez top 20ish is what I’m thinking.
I think a flip of Josh Harrison from the Pirates would be workable. Harrison brings versatility and give Gray the #5 spot in rotation
Lets all say it together: The Yankees aren’t getting anything of value for Sonny Gray.
They weren’t before, and with Cashman’s comments, he has made it that no one is giving a dime for the guy.
Good idea but if the Yanks wanted to sign Harrison they could. He’s a free agent.
No, no he’s not. He has option years in 2019 and 2020, for 10.5 and 11mil
Didn’t they pretty much say he’s not getting his options picked up?
It’s likely, but not guaranteed as the Pirates are already losing their starting SS who does not have options.
Yes. I know …so you think that the Bucs will exercise their option at that high price merely to trade him? They are loaded with low cost replacements or a cheap option on the free agent market.
The thing they will have to determine is whether they believe they could find a better option than gray on the FA market at a cheaper price if the yanks would make the deal
If they wait a week past the WS, they will know if the option was picked up.
You don’t think those talks are already ongoing? I think if Gray is available the Pirates may be a player.
Sonny Gray for Ben Zobrist? Gray takes Darvish’s spot in the rotation. Zobrist at 2B, Torres at SS til Didi returns then Zo becomes his super-utiity self again.
A) Zobrist only has 1 year left
B) Darvish should be back, barring any other crap
Gray only has one year left. Seems fair.
Padres, Angels, White Sox, Rangers and Reds should all be at least entertaining this.
Gray to the Reds for Billy Hamilton,..two disappointing players for both teams
Gray to the Padres for Buddy Reed..a switch hitting outfielder prospect wit interesting tools, and an organization that really has no room for him
Why would the Padres want a rental?
In theory they could hope Balsley is able to fix him then flip him for something better at the deadline next summer
Look at what the Tigers got for Mike Fiers at the deadline and then ask if Gray rebounds to that level, will he be worth as much with a higher contract. Just not worth it for a rebuilding team.
What Yankee fans expect from Cashman in the 2018-2019 offseason- Sign Harper, Machado, Corbin. Trade away Gray and make sure other team eats up contract, and possibly look for possibilities to trade for Trout or Kershaw.
Add to the list:
-Cure cancer
-Score 5 goals in the World Cup Finals
-Reunite Simon & Garfunkel
-Land a space shuttle on Mars.
Don’t lose any games at all. They will be asking for Kimbrel too cause they only have 2 closers now instead of 4, unless Robertson resigns
-Cure AIDS
-Solve the Chicago murder rate
-Get the leaders of all Muslim Countries and the Prime Minister of Israel together for a group hug.
-Proof of a higher power
-MAKE THE CLINTONS GO AWAY!
#WalkAwayCampaign, to that last point.
Matt Damon already landed a space shuttle on Mars…and grew some potatoes
its funny because until that last part, i can see that maybe happening – altho Phily is most likely getting Harper, but Trout and Kershaw? lmao shut up dude
Where they gonna shop him at, a flea market?
Craigslist
Possibly a non-tender candidate. Maybe the Yanks want to give him a raise and make trading him that much more difficult, who knows. Many teams will be interested, but I wouldn’t expect them to be willing to part with anything of value.
I have been hoping for months that The Yankees can somehow swing a deal with the Mets this winter for DeGrom or Syndagaard. Maybe Sonny can be thrown in that. Maybe a deal of Frazier, Florial, Gray, Loaisiga, Abreu, King, and I was thinking Andujar if they signed a Machado, but with a Didi possibly out for the year I don’t think they trade Andujar now.. Without Andujar I’m not sure a deal could get done? Maybe? Guess we will have to see who the new GM is?
Bird, Gray, and Stanton to the Mets for Bruce, Cespedes, and DeGrom?
Blue Jays may need an innings eater.
Gray, a pitching prospect (Luis Medina) and maybe 1 more player for Justin Smoak.
The AL especially the AL east is the hardest place to pitch in. Put him in the NL where he will pitch 10x better:)
The 2 best pitching staffs in baseball is in the AL.. Astros and Indians
The worst division in baseball is the AL Central.
How much of that had to do with Indians being 1st MLB team in History, to have four SP with 200K?
Kluber, Bauer, Carrasco, Clevinger.
Believe AL West is not particularly strong (outside Astros) but Astros have a chance to repeat
Btw, not trying to take anything away from Cleveland (love it when history’s made) just think would make an interesting debate topic.
A’s, Twins, Rangers, Angels, Mariners, Brewers, and a few others will have interest. Could see him having a decent bounce back year, then landing an albatross Alex Cobb type contract.
I like your selection of teams looking to contend, as possible landing spots.
Any kind of refund on his jersey? I had high hopes before the season.
Would Gray to the Pirates for Ivan Nova be good or bad?
sonny for joe panik straight up.
What’s his health status?
I think he’s healthy, he played the last few series of the season and
looked pretty good. I was just thinking how he’s a New York guy as well as a lefty that could probably crank quite a few out over the short porch in RF at Yankee Stadium. The Giants could try Avelino or Hansen at 2nd I guess. I like Panik as a Giant but I think he’d look good in pinstripes too.
I was a big proponent of a move to get him last offseason
Test 1.2.3
Trade Sonny Gray, Austin Romine, and Elsbury to Arizona for Grienke plus 15 million and Alex Avila.
Trade Stanton to Dodgers for Julio Urias coming off shoulder surgery last year.
Sign Corbin and Japanese lefty Yusei Kikuchi for the rotation to go with Grienke, Severino, Tanaka plus rookies like Sheffield, King, and Losaiga can compete for a spot.
Sign Bryce Harper to play left and some first.
Sign Daniel Murphy to take over Walker role.
Sign Machado to play SS until Didi comes back and then either move Andujar to first or deal him for prospects or pitching.
Bring up Clint Frazier and Tyler Wade for bench.
Off season complete!
Your out of your mind brother. That is way too much
This is so wacky it just might work.
Na, I came down from my high…
grow up
What about Zack Littell for Gray??
The Mariners should seriously look at Gray if they think they have a serious shot at the playoffs.
I think the Reds ought to get him if the price is low enough. He’d be just the right type of veteran to act as a #2 starter for their rotation. If they could also pick up Corbin or Keuchel with their increased payroll, they might surprise next year.
Gray plus a piece for Schwarber, Chatwood, and Russell
Yes on Schwarber, but an easy pass on Russell, and Chatwood.
A mediocre pitcher for your top 5 rated prospects and you have to take Ellsbury.
But think, you get the honor of trading with the Yankmees.
Who are the prospects CBS mentioned?
I think it’s pretty clear the top priority would be to flip him for a SS replacement for the near term. Unless they are already looking at signing Manny M. Acquiring another OF doesn’t make sense nor does a 3b. It’s not ideal but if they sign Machado that allows them to DH Didi when he comes back late next year if at all. By that time they will have a clear idea what the have at 3b in Andujar. The other option would be to peruse a trade for a 1b and I think a trade to the Phillies for Santana is a no brainer. They have a log jam there and should look to move Santana and Bour so Rheys can move to 1b. Perhaps the Yankees through in another OF to make this happen?
Sonny back to A’s. Bob Melvin and pitching coach Scott Emerson will bring Gray around so he can be the pitching star he once was in Oakland…
He still was a good pitcher last year, just not at that little league park the Yankees play in where check swings go for home runs due to those pathetically short fences.
Oh here we go the all knowing West Coast A’s guy that continues to denigrate the most if not one of the most famous ballparks, Yankee Stadium, in the major leagues…not that cow barn your team plays in.
By the way Bub, did I miss something or did the A’s fail to get the top seed in the wild card and did they then lose to the NY Yankees in the wild card game…..something YOU bragged about endlessly in favor of the A’s just a short time ago.
Do us all a favor and find somewhere else to spill your swine!
Mateo for Gray straight up works really well for both sides, as A’s have no SP and NYY has no MI depth at AAA.
Yes, I am a Yankee fan, but Sonny Gray was actually very good outside of Yankee stadium. They should get something for him.
ERA 3.17; wOBA .274; BAA .223; OBP .295; SLG .320
K/9 9.89; BB/9 2.79; HR/9 0.38; FIP 2.65
Take him out of Yankee stadium and he is an ace.
Never saw a pitcher as unable to handle NY.
That said, there should be plenty of teams that would be willing to take a shot. If not, if I was Cashman I would get him to a sports psychiatrist (if they haven’t) or just use him on the road.
Never saw a pitcher as unable to handle NY? Remember Carl Pavano?
Pavano is close. Whitson was another. Thing is neither of them was ever as good as Sonny Gray. Javier Vazquez may have been close overall but he stunk whether wearing pinstripes or grays for the Yankees.
I’d argue that Whitson and Pavano were both better than Gray. Or at the very least as good with a longer track record. Sonny Gray is just another Oakland pitcher that isn’t nearly as good away from that cavernous stadium. He is Rich Harden or Barry Zito or Mark Mulder.
Yeah that’s a good comparison, a team like the Rangers could really use him though because I can’t watch another season of Bartolo and Matt Moore lol
What do the Yankees need most? Most of the free agents are oldish and maybe one get QOs.:
SP JA Happ, CC Sabathia, Lance Lynn
RP Zack Britton, David Robertson
OF Andrew McCutchen, Brett Gardner
IF Neil Walker, Adeiny Hechavarria
Sonny Gray for Jordan Zimmermann.
None of these guys are eligible for QO’s other than Gardner, and he has a $12.5m club option (2m buyout, so 10.5M team option) that probably gets declined, and CC who’d accept QO in a heartbeat. (Made $10m last yr)
Counter: Jacoby Ellsbury for Jordan Zimmermann. (Nearly identical salary + years)
Ellsbury and Gray for Zimmermann?
Not a horrible idea. Gray might be enough of a sweetener. Still I think a contender is a better fit.
How about Mike Montgomery for him?
Angels could use him. Considering his success in the AL west and the current awful pitching staff the Angels are throwing out there, I’d love to have Sonny on our Halos.
Ellsbury, Gray, Stanton, and Voit for Pujols and Trout?
You could make a plausible argument that the A’s should trade Fowler (who has been very disappointing) back to the Yankees for Gray. Laureano blocks Fowler’s potential spot; meanwhile, the A’s have less than nothing at SP. From the Yankees side, it’s a salary dump with some upside. Kind of a lemons-for-lemons deal.
Would not be the worst. To be fair, it could almost be an undue of the trade. Mateo has not exactly lit it up for Oakland and with Didi hurt the extra depth might be useful. Kaprellian would be the time value of the Gray rental.
My guess is the Yanks deal him for someone that does not need to be on the 40 man roster though. Upside. The Yanks still have a bit of a logjam.
There’s no chance the A’s would trade both of those guys back for a one-year rental, particularly given their limited depth at middle infield. They MIGHT trade just Mateo, but only if they re-sign Lowrie.
Jorge Mateo posted a 62 wRC+ at AAA. As much as I used to like him, he is looking like a big time bust. Frankly I am not sure I would even take him back as he would need to be on the 40 man roster.
Yanks should sign CC / Machado and Corbin.
Need to catch the RedSox next year.
I am not sure I see Machado as a great fit. He really is not a SS. Yes he could replace Andujar when Didi returns. If Didi returns. This is Didi’s last season of arbitration and he could be gone. That would then leave a subpar defender at SS and 3B.
Machado fits as a 3B if you can package Andujar for a pitcher. Andujar loses a lot of value if he needs to move to 1B or LF.
Torres should be the SS of the future.
Focus on improving the SP and re-signing either (or both) Robertson and Britton (or Miller).
My bet is the Yanks sign Corbin, re-sign CC, Walker, and D-Rob. Plus one more big move that we do not expect. For me, it would be Keuchel. Maybe Happ. But I think pitching needs to be the priority.
And in other news Ed Whitson just said “told ya”
Cashman messed up by trying to change Gray from a fastball pitcher to a breaking ball pitcher and Gray was rightfully reluctant to make those changes at this point in his career. Now Cashman is going to have to take it in the shorts because Gray struggled with the Yankee no fastball philosophy and only has one year of team control left. Cashman will be lucky to get a bucket of balls for Gray now. Some team that will allow Gray to do his own thing is going to profit greatly from Cashman’s failed experiment.