Yes, the Yankees are very interested in shopping Sonny Gray this offseason
The New York Yankees are very ready to say goodbye to Sonny Gray this offseason, and odds are the feeling is quite mutual.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman confirmed during a press conference Friday what the vast majority of baseball observers had probably already assumed: the team will be shopping Gray to any possible takers this winter.
Cashman’s deep sigh after hearing the question about Gray was really all you needed to know.
Yankees are open-minded to trading Sonny Gray, says Brian Cashman. pic.twitter.com/CbezfLuhRQ
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 12, 2018
The full quote:
It hasn’t worked out thus far. I think he’s extremely talented. I think that we’ll enter the winter, unfortunately, open-minded to a relocation. I think, to maximize his abilities, it would be more likely best somewhere else, but then it comes down to the final decision of price, in terms of trade acquisition and matching up with somebody. If we match up, yeah, it’s probably best to try this somewhere else, but if we don’t match up, it’s also best to continue to try.
While he’s here, we’re going to be doing everything in our power to find a way to tap into his talent. We’ve been unable to do that now for a year and a half. I think if I do find a match for him at some point, you’re going to see what we hope to see here. But sometimes, it just doesn’t work out that way. So we’ll see. Stay tuned. I’ve got nothing cooking, but I will plan on doing some cooking if I can over time for his sake and for ours.
So, basically, Cashman wants to trade Gray, but he’s going to do his best to help Gray if he can’t. But he wants to trade Gray.
In today’s baseball landscape, that’s a breathtakingly forthcoming comment from a GM about his eagerness to trade a player. And given the Yankees’ history with Gray, it’s also not surprising.
Why are the Yankees shopping Sonny Gray?
Gray arrived in New York through a costly trade for the Yankees, who gave up three significant prospects — Jorge Mateo, Dustin Fowler and James Kaprielian — to the Oakland Athletics to bring in the right-hander. There was a reason they paid that price.
At the time, Gray held a career 3.42 ERA with a 3.56 FIP in his first four-and-a-half MLB seasons. Despite posting an awful 5.69 ERA during his injury-marred 2016 season, the then 27-year-old had the look of a talented young starter with years of team control left, one of the most valuable assets in sports.
That value went up in smoke during Gray’s time with the Yankees. In one-and-a-half seasons in New York, Gray holds a 4.51 ERA, was demoted to a bullpen in August and was eventually left off the Yankees’ ALDS roster.
Nothing has come easy for Gray and the Yankees since he was traded, so it should be pretty clear why a fresh start for Gray could be the best outcome this season for all sides.
Who could trade for Sonny Gray?
Despite all of Gray’s struggles in the past two or three years, he has still flashed immense talent as a starter. There should be plenty of teams hoping they can turn things around for Gray, who will be 29 by the start of next season.
Gray’s old home could also work best as his new home, as Melissa Lockard of The Athletic speculated the A’s might want to pursue Gray in a trade. But really, any team with a hole in its rotation could give Gray, who is a free agent next offseason, a look as a buy-low option this winter.
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