While the Yankees have broadcast far and wide their intentions to deal Sonny Gray, they are still shopping for the best possible return, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets. The Yanks are said to have tried to pry loose well-regarded prospect Taylor Trammell from the Reds, though unsurprisingly that effort proved unsuccessful. Sherman suggests that could be an indication that New York has good offers in hand — or, alternatively, that the Yankees are swinging for the fences just in case a big score can be found.
There’s certainly no shortage of interest in Gray, as GM Brian Cashman told reporters (including Sherman) that 11 teams have checked in on the right-hander. “We haven’t found the sweet spot yet” in talks, Cashman said, as the Yankees are exploring a variety of offers involving Gray from a smaller number of teams than that initial 11-club group.
Some more on the busy pitching market…
- Teams who have called the Diamondbacks about Robbie Ray say that the left-hander isn’t available in trade talks, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets. That tracks with reports from earlier today, which stated that the D’Backs had put a very high price tag on Ray, even if the southpaw isn’t entirely untouchable. Ray is controlled for the next two seasons at fairly reasonable arbitration costs, giving Arizona less incentive to him than a player entering his last year under contract (the already-dealt Paul Goldschmidt) or a player taking up a massive chunk of the payroll (i.e. Zack Greinke). The D’Backs are telling teams they aren’t entering into a complete rebuild, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (via Twitter).
- There is “widespread interest” in Ervin Santana, as per MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo (Twitter link), though a signing doesn’t seem imminent. Finger surgery limited Santana to just 24 1/3 innings in 2018, and he feels he’ll probably sign later in the offseason once he can display to teams that he is fully healthy. Santana is an intriguing buy-low candidate, given that he posted solid-to-excellent numbers in the five seasons prior to his injury-marred 2018 campaign.
- Also from Cotillo, another bounce-back candidate in free agent lefty Drew Pomeranz has drawn interest from a “handful” of suitors.
- Even after signing Patrick Corbin, the Nationals searching for another starter, per Jon Heyman of Fancred (Twitter link). Tanner Roark is coming off a middling season and Joe Ross only just returned from Tommy John surgery, so there’s certainly some room for Washington to improve at the back of their rotation beyond the big three of Corbin, Max Scherzer, and Stephen Strasburg. Beyond another starter, Heyman also said the Nats are looking to add a reliever and a second baseman.
- Three other teams were finalists for Nathan Eovaldi before the right-hander re-signed with the Red Sox, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston tweets. The Angels were one of the finalists, and Eovaldi himself implied that the Astros were another, saying that he strongly considered pitching in his hometown of Houston. It isn’t known who the fourth finalist was, though the Phillies also had interest in Eovaldi, but as a closer, reports The Athletic’s Jayson Stark (Twitter link). Eovaldi’s desire to remain as a starting pitcher closed the door on that opportunity, however.
lowtalker1
Yankees are swinging for the fences here on gray. The only way they can get something like that in return is if they attach something else
User 4245925809
Sherman article in the NYP admitted as much. i thought the ask was more than borderline ridiculous, it even mentioned Trammel was like 17th best prospect in the game for a guy every GM knows is going to be long gone from NY before March.
Omar Minaya isn’t running any team nowdays so I don’t see Cashman getting that type of haul back. he’ll have to add another blue chipper himself, or settle for a LOT less in the end IMO.
lowtalker1
Yup
Samuel
Gray is in a walk year.
Next the Yankee fans come on here proposing Gray as a centerpiece along with some bench players and failed prospects to the Indians for a 2-time Cy Young award winner on a 3-year, team-friendly contract.
YourDaddy
If they attached Acevedo, then they could get Trammel. Without a top notch prospect attached, the best the Yankees can hope for from the Reds is Mella or Herget.
bencole
I’d be shocked if Acevedo moved the needle all that much. Trammel’s not going anywhere, especially not for anything resembling Sonny Gray and a non-elite prospect. Maybe Florial and Gray would be enough, maybe not.
YourDaddy
Loaisiga?
bencole
No I still don’t think so. Loaisiga would bring something good but not that good…. a lot more reasonable though. Both the Reds and scouts are really high on Trammel
Jbigz12
No. Sonny gray doesn’t change prospect tiers. If there were any deal to have been made involving trammel maybe it could’ve been gray and Sheffield for Trammell. Yankees don’t have a prospect close enough in value to trammell for gray to make happen. Not that I’m sure the reds would’ve even taken that.
bencole
Agreed JBigz. I don’t think Sheffield does it either.
dobsonel
You are overvaluing Trammel if you think Loaisiga wouldn’t do it, especially since Loaisiga is WAY more valuable at this moment. Yes, Trammel ranks 17 and Loaisiga is 66 on MLB’s top 100 prospect list, but Trammel is still in A ball at least 3 years away if he makes it at all. Meanwhile Loaisiga just debuted in the bigs this past year and looked really good. I’d take the pitcher ready now before an OF who can’t crack an .800 OPS is A ball.
Jbigz12
Proximity means nothing when your ceiling is low. The reds aren’t in win now mode and Loasiiaga isn’t a future ace. Trammell has the upside to be a game changing player. That’s why he’s regarded so highly.
slasher016
Hmm? .819 OPS in 570 PA isn’t cracking .800? What did I miss?
rdsfan05
We are talking about a player who won the futures game mvp, and didn’t play until the 5th or 6th inning and absolutely destroyed the ball still young and is still young in the game Bc he was a football star as well and loaisiga is a guy who’s 24 and threw a 5.11 era in nine games in the Mlb.
Yankees would need to add more
sportsnut969
Could it be that instead of a 3 team deal that The Indians have given the Yankees a few guys that they are interested in on like the Reds Trammell so they do not have to give up Estevan Florial their top prospect that the Indians have said has to be part of a Kluber deal.
ksoze
And the Reds just get to donate Trammell, I think if they were to move him, the Reds would be interested in Klubber as a Red.
xabial
Gray’s return will surprise many of you and show you why Cashman’s one of the best in the business. Trust in Cashman
jkeiththeseup
Cashman is soft and so is Hal I wish George was alive because we would go all out and get everyone to win the world series. We’d have Kluber and sign both machado and harper but everything is so analytical and it’s all bullshit if they don’t get Kluber or Keuchel they are done
Adam6710
If George had been alive they’d have signed Albert Pujols, Matt Wieters, Pablo Sandoval, Troy Tulowitzki, and Chris Davis, and they’d have just as many titles since 2009 as they do now.
And they’d have finished 2017 and 2018 in 3rd place.
allthesingledigitsgone
Hal is soft. Cash is not.
wrigleywannabe
No you wouldn’t. Those analytical teams are having successful years
Pedro Cerrano's Voodoo
So if they don’t get all the best players on and off the market they’re done. Amazing analysis.
jkeiththeseup
Uh ya have you seen the red sox
YourDaddy
WTF. They won 100 games last season. No matter who they get or don’t get, the Yankees are a damn good team.
imindless
Yankees are delusional to think they will get a top prospect for gray and his bloated era and injury history. Nice try though!
Philliesfan4life
Gray needs to go back to a pitchers park. Angels , Dodgers or Padres are fits for him.
HalosHeavenJJ
Agreed. But for only one year, none of those clubs should give up much in prospect capital.
YourDaddy
They won’t. That is why Gray is still a Yankee. Cashman wants to recoup his investment and with just one year of control, coming off a really bad season, and with his injury history, the Yankees will be lucky to get a 45 FV prospect.
Adam6710
This is a situation where the Yankees can be patient. They can’t get a good deal now, and if nobody comes forward with anything better they still do a bad deal later.
But if they hold out, there’s a fair chance a team gets desperate or an injury happens during ST.
bencole
I don’t think they’ll even get a 45. Maybe a 40
rocky7
Different day, same bulls_it stuff from mindless.
.Exactly what “injury history” are you talking about.
YourDaddy
In 2016 and 2017 he missed 20 starts while on the DL.
jekporkins
Burn.
imindless
Uh never talked to you before on here. Dating back to 2016 trap,elbow and shoulder disabled list multiple times. Era has been up since then sandwiched by one average year then back to bloated era in new york.
Begamin
Theyre just negotiation tactics. He is high balling them trying to see how much the Reds truly see Sonny Gray. I dont think Cash expected the Reds to just give up a top prospect for a year of Gray.
SamP835
Almost pissed myself seeing them ask for Trammell
Begamin
Imagine being a commenter on an MLBTR and actually thinking the Yankees offer was anything more than a high-ball offer to feel the Reds out. I mean like, youre on a forum all about trades and youre so oblivious to a negotiation tactic that you think the Yankees thought they were going to fleece Trammel that easy.
I bet you pissed yourself when you went to a car dealership and they threw out numbers higher than the sticker price.
SamP835
That’s like going to a used car dealership and they’re asking 20,000 for a 2004 Honda Accord. Solid car no doubt, but so ridiculous you just laugh at it.
Begamin
And then the dealership has a better understanding on how much you value the car. Its not an offer the dealership expects you to take. You just revealed information that can lead to dealership getting the deal they actually want.
The Yankees offer wasnt one they expected the Reds to take. They are simply gauging their response. Its just the fact that you think its a serious offer (as in, Yankees seriously thought the Reds would expect such a deal) from the Yankees side that has me questioning why you are on this site.
You almost pissed yourself because you saw the early stages of a negotiation.
Bringbacktheblue
Disgusting
dellarocco72
Paddack and Potts from Padres.
lowtalker1
Hahaha
So you giving up your starting second and third baseman for this?
Stupid
nmc420theambassador
are you sending andjuar & gleybar back for that? because if it’s only for gray, this aint if chief
pinstripes17
it’s only Trammell, a player who has nevver played a single MLB game, chief
nmc420theambassador
k. that’s not how it works, but k
Begamin
“gleybar”
“bar”
nmc420theambassador
i mean, it is beer:30. time to stop getting paid to post comments on the internet at work and take my sorry ass to the liquor cabinet
Bringbacktheblue
Clayton Richard for Torres, Gray and Severino
nmc420theambassador
accurate counter offer. i rate that transaction
lowtalker1
Haha that’s the trade I was going to flip on to some Yankees fan on twitter that was Suggesting grey for Yates and strahm
lowtalker1
That’s basically what it equates to
YourDaddy
Potts alone is probably more than the Yankees can expect.
bencole
Yes I think you are absolutely right, I think it’s way lower than even Potts
slider32
There are 10 teams in on Gray, his road stats are good, he is healthy, and in his prime. Gray’s upside is higher than most mid tear pitchers. Cashman is looking to get a player he can flip in package l for a front line pitcher.
seamaholic 2
He’s also only got one year of control. They’ll be lucky to get a C prospect for him. More likely a bad contract back.
Dennid
Cashman told there were 11 teams asking about Gray. He could be fabricating to grow his return. Not a bad move but just because he says it doesn’t make it so.
lowtalker1
Hahaha
I’m still laughing at you
Thanks for pointing yourself out on here
bencole
And he won’t. Not even close. I don’t think he can get an MLB top 300 guy for him.
alien
yeah.. 10 teams who’s considering.. buy low..
bbrebozo
If they can’t get something significant for Gray they should stand pat. Healthy, still young, pitching for a contract, he’s primed for a bounce back year.
Can easily see him being better than CC, Tanaka, Happ, Keuchel or Morton next year.
YourDaddy
Gray already has no spot in the rotation. The Yankees will get bupkiss for him.
Begamin
As it stands right now Gray does have a spot in the rotation. Cash said he wanted to get two more elite level SP after the CC signing and has only gotten one so far. If the season started today, the rotation would probably be
1. Severino
2. Tanaka
3. Paxton
4. CC
5. a choice between Gray/German/Adams/Loaisiga
Until he gets another SP/trades Gray, there is a significant chance Gray is in the rotation
YourDaddy
So what you are saying is that the Yankees can get something significant in trade for a #5 starter that is not guaranteed a spot in the rotation?
LMAO. Give it a rest.
If the Yankees get a C level prospect, 45 FV at best, some guy you have never heard of, then they will be doing well. Gray stunk and he has no spot on the team according to the GM.
Or did you forget that Cashman has already said he WON’T start for the Yankees in 2019?
Begamin
Yeah that is not what I said. All I said was that there is an open spot in the rotation and if the Yankees do not acquire another SP and do not trade Gray then there is a good chance Gray is going to be in the rotation to start the year.
billysbballz
Really? I guess they keep him then! Lol
Wow the silly comments on here! 11 teams in on him but they will get Bupkiss???
YourDaddy
Yup. 11 teams are just clamoring to get a guy that put up a 5 ERA, can’t pitch at home no matter what team he plays on, and has not been healthy for a full season since 2014. SURE.
I guess you missed Cashman saying he is gone and that he has no spot in the rotation. That kind of guy doesn’t return much. A 45 FV prospect would be Cashman getting a good deal.
bencole
Yes. I think they get a 40 prospect or 2 at absolute best.
YourDaddy
The Reds are still rolling on the floor laughing. The Yankees will be lucky to get a 45 FV prospect for Gray.
Adam6710
How many times are going to say that, pops?
YourDaddy
Every time some moron that calls himself a Yankee fans says something stupid like Cashman will get ANYONE good for Gray, son.
bencole
Yes, this ^
Adam6710
Take your brain medicine, old man.
YourDaddy
The Padres offered 3 years at $17 million AAV for Eovaldi. Like most teams, they were not willing to go 4 years.
prov356
Isn’t the story here that the Red Sox re-signed Eovaldi? Not who came in second.
HalosHeavenJJ
I like hearing that the Angels were finalists for the expensive starters. Should mean we are in line for one or more decent free agents. Say Morton and Grandal or Ramos. Keep adding pieces without hamstringing the future.
Mike's Trout
Morton, Kikuchi, and Ramos and we’re set.
Cincyshawn
Well they got us on Chapman so don’t blame them for trying but glad Reds ain’t nuts today
Begamin
There are reports of Yankees and Reds talking about Scooter Gennett. Not sure if those talks are anything serious or if they were just like “That Scooter guy is p. gud man”, “yup”.
Anyways, I see Cash highballing the Reds. It could be possible that a Gray+prospects package can bring back some MLB talent. As much as I dont think they need offense, if they could flip Gray for a productive hitter I would be OK with it. Wonder if Votto’s name is being thrown around. As much potential that Voit and Bird have, Votto already has his potential realized.
At the end of the day, 1B can be a black hole offensively and they would still have a top 3 offense (they were 2nd in average runs per game last year, if im not mistaken), so I hope they just go for pitching.
larryb
votto has a no trade clause and he is said he wouldn’t wave it
beyou02215
Trammell? They couldn’t have seriously asked for him. That’s just silly.
Backatitagain
How about a deal where the Braves send top prospect, MLB#20, second year pitcher Mike Soroka with six years of control, to New York; with pitcher Sonny Gray and Outfielder Clint Frazier returning to Atlanta.
alien
LOL.. top prospects and Soroka for your garbage?? Frazier is injury proned.. Gray is rental GARBAGE..
jdgoat
Why would Atlanta ever do that?
tharrie0820
I would want to see how Riley handles LF before something like your trade proposal. Also, no to the trade proposal
chief 2
D-backs are delusional if they don’t already know that everyone else already knows that they’re already in a complete rebuild.
timothysus
To be honest I’m surprised the Reds didn’t bite. Ownership and management is horrible. I heard they have flew Mike Brown into Vegas to help them out..
larryb
lmao best comment yet