After a nightmarish year in the Bronx, his first full season with the Yankees, right-hander Sonny Gray is among the majors’ most obvious trade candidates this winter. General manager Brian Cashman has made it known the Yankees are aiming to move Gray, who has drawn plenty of interest this offseason. Along with the previously reported Athletics and Padres, teams that are eyeing Gray include the Braves, Rangers and Twins, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
Any team that picks up Gray would be taking on a rental, as 2019 will be the 29-year-old’s final arbitration-eligible campaign. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects Gray to earn $9.1MM, which may look steep for a pitcher who failed to maintain a spot in the Yankees’ rotation for all of last season and only managed a 4.90 ERA across 130 1/3 innings (30 appearances, 23 starts). However, ERA estimators such as FIP (4.17), xFIP (4.10) and SIERA (4.28) suggest Gray deserved better in the run prevention department in 2018, and while he did issue a high number of walks (3.94 per nine), he also posted quality strikeout (8.49 K/9) and groundball (50 percent) rates. Moreover, Gray’s struggles were mostly limited to the Bronx, as he logged a horrendous 6.98 ERA/5.98 FIP at home and a terrific 3.17 ERA/2.65 FIP on the road. Historically, Gray has been closer to the pitcher he was away from Yankee Stadium last season, as his 3.66 ERA and 3.74 FIP over 900 combined 2/3 innings with the A’s and Yankees demonstrate.
Of the newly listed teams pursuing Gray, the Rangers stand out as the club likely to have the most difficult time making the playoffs next season. Not only are the Rangers a rebuilding team stuck in a division with the Astros, A’s, Mariners and Angels, but they’re ridiculously thin on starting pitchers and may soon deal their No. 1 option, Mike Minor. It would be a surprise to see Texas come out on top in the race for Gray, then, while the other teams seem like more plausible landing spots.
The reigning NL East champion Braves have shown past interest in Gray – albeit with different front office leadership than they have now – and need to replace free agent Anibal Sanchez, who was unexpectedly one of their best starters in 2018. And though the Braves seem to have the payroll room to aim higher than Gray, general manager Alex Anthopoulos has suggested they’re hesitant to dish out expensive long-term deals at this juncture. Therefore, it makes sense that the Braves are interested in Gray, who’d be a relatively low-risk addition.
Minnesota, unlike Atlanta, disappointed last season, taking several steps backward after earning a playoff spot in 2017. The Twins are in a division that may be there for the taking, though, so the right moves this offseason could make the team serious AL Central contenders next year. In Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda (who missed all of last season), the Twins already have four established starters under control for next season. However, they’re lacking another proven hurler along the lines of Gray, who’d seemingly slot in ahead of the likes of Fernando Romero, Adalberto Mejia, and Stephen Gonsalves – a trio which has combined for 203 innings and 40 starts in the majors.
No mention of the Reds who have previously been linked.
Are the Reds still considered an MLB team?
(note, Reds fan since the BRM days)
With the stupid owner, theyw ill lose 90+ games again.
He would instantly become the Rangers #1 starter.
One reason why the Rangers stink.
That’s your upper lip and your own team’s rotten smell.
I meant no disrespect, just making general observations. That roster has seen better days. I don’t see how trading for Gray helps them.
texASS is trash. absolute garbage franchise that has never won a WS
Seems like a good candidate for a trade-deadline flip. There’s a little risk, but it seems like a good bet that he’ll rebuild some value and be worth more to a contender in July than he’ll cost to acquire.
Wow a Mets fan talking trash about World Series titles? How’s the last 32 years for your team been buddy?
you responded to the wrong comment and i’m not a mets fan. lol moron
You would all be blown away how much sweeter life is when you show respect to each other.
Obviously close doesn’t get you a ring but they were about as close as a team can get without winning one in one of the best World Series of all times. An out away I believe
You have a Mets player in your screen name and you’re upset people think you’re a Mets fan. Who’s the moron again?
Sorry didn’t know I was conversing with a twelve year old. I apologize.
Dear Braves, NO!
Dito!
Braves have shown a good ability of turning pitchers around in the past. It may not be the same coaches/etc but Javier Vazquez is a great example of a good pitcher that succeeded elsewhere, came to the Yanks and struggled, left to the Braves and then returned back to there previous success.
Jaret Wright is another. He had the best season of his career with Atlanta. It always makes me laugh everytime I think about it. The Yankees signed him and offered a lot of cash at the time and he was mediocre to say the least. Now that I think about it, the Yankees do have a history of taking the Braves leftovers.
More of a history taking rings from them, lol
He’s an incredible pitcher who can’t handle the pressure of Yankee stadium. You’d be lucky to have him.
Weren’t the Reds interested, or was that just someone speculating it would be a good fit?
I think it was speculation! However the fact that it would be a rental the Reds probably are not interested! Unless they were able to land another starter or 2 to make them a contender now! Their offense is pretty solid but they need a couple solid starters! Then Gray could be the possible missing piece!
Yea! Let’s all shout! Exclamation points are fun!
Yes! You’re right! They’re annoying! But not as annoying as you!!!!!!!!!!
This is the reason why your left hand sees more action than you do.
I’m sorry I did not use enough periods for you……would this be better for you? I will try to remember to use correct punctuation for your sake in the future!
Testy!!!
MYRS STFU MF!!!!!
SPEAK UP!!!!!!!!!
I CANT HEAR YOU!!!!!!
Now now children
ALL CAPS WOULD BE SHOUTING. CAN YOU HEAR ME? Exclamation point is for emphasis not SHOUTING. You are welcome baseball1600
WhiteyFordSr such foul language from such a pretty girl.
I think he’s tight with Derek Johnson so he might be willing to re-sign
He’s on Reds radar, along with about every other starting pitcher out there. They are on record as saying they want to bring in two starters and the new pitching coach was with Gray in college at Vanderbilt
Excited to see what Wisler and Sims do on 2019 for the Reds.
Curious to see what the Yankees get back given the extreme perceived cost at the time. It demonstrates how minor league talent is overall risky. Whatever they get now seems a lot more than what they would have gotten last 07/31.
I don’t necessarily think they will get more then they would have gotten in July…teams still have the leverage at looking at his overall numbers and buying that, where the Yankees are hoping to sell on his road splits alone! It would have been the same arguement in July…nothing changed!
Don’t agree. The Yankees did the right thing by not doing a gut reaction move that would have been easy to justify after getting Happ. His sample size is also larger. Had they traded him even by 08/31 as had likely would have cleared waivers it would have been perceived then as a dump. Now teams might actually be bidding up his value to an extent. That would not have happened last year (IMHO).
True plus you might have more teams involved, don’t know if a team like the Reds would have been involved at the time.
Get home out of the Bronx ASAP and why can’t we look for a middle infielder so we don’t get stuck with machado. Then we sign Didi long term once he’s healthy. We will sing Corbin and get some bullpen help and a rear clear of machado.
A rear clear of Machado? Lol, are you saying he is a pain in the a$$?
Think he meant “steer clear”.
Damn auto spell.
Camargo for Gray and Frazier.
What they will get is his salary off the books and a couple low level lottery tickets.
Gray will probably pitch well elsewhere and him having one year actually helps his value as opposed to other trades. It’s less risk for the team taking him.
People bash Gray and think he is worthless but go look up his splits. He pitched pretty good when he wasn’t at Yankee stadium in 2018. Any team that gets him, he’ll probably pitch like his road splits and will be a steal.
Tyler chatwood has good splits his last season in Colorado…
Cole hamels has horrible splits too. It’s a mixed bag. It’s typically worth the risk because the players bottom line results drove the price way down. Ala Hamels to Chicago.
Grays other “good” quality is overall he stayed healthy when his last years in Oakland weren’t.
And also look at the teams he pitched against in those away games. I don’t know how many times he faced the miserable AL central or the Bmore Orioles. Accumulated stats can be misleading when he was put in position to succeed but when he needed to succeed he failed.
30 starts
15 on the road
Baltimore 3
Toronto 3
Boston 2
Tampa Bay 2
Houston
Kansas City
Washington
Chicago White Sox
Minnesota
15 at home
Baltimore 2
Toronto 2
Minnesota
Cleveland
Oakland
Los Angeles Angels
Washington
Boston
New York Mets
Kansas City
Texas
Tampa Bay
Detroit
On the surface, it looks like he had an approximately even schedule of opponents home and away, which I suppose makes the splits even more dramatic.
Gee let’s see, right hander facing mostly lefty’s in short porch Yankee stadium, aka dead meat!
I think he is pretty worthless, but at the same time I think he’s a pretty good bounce back candidate. It doesn’t have to be one or the either.
So he’s not pretty worthless?
Yeah, i’m gonna second this. A player can’t be perceived as a bounce back candidate and have no value. The idea alone that he can bounce back gives him value.
Splits like these are still a small sample. Take them with a grain of salt
Look at his splits vs teams better than .500. Guess what you find? Similar splits
Everything I saw last year was someone afraid to go after hitters, constantly behind in the count and as a fan you questioned how long he would be left in the game. You can change his scenery but until he changes his approach the results will be the same.
I could see him being a good fit in San Francisco.
Bumgarner-Cueto-Rodriguez-Suarez-Gray with Stratton as the spot starter. We’d like to forget Jeff Samardzija exists.
Yeah,I like it,Gray is still young!Cueto will miss most of the year though and I say make Samardzija a Closer his best years have been in the Bullpen and he has the stuff,I like Smith but not a true closer
That’s a horrible staff.
I’m anxiously waiting for the Giants to start making some moves. I thought we’d know their new strategy going forward by now. However, I do have confidence in their new hire upstairs. He’s definitely going to earn his money with all of their problems.
I really wouldn’t mind the Yankees giving Gray another shot. Keep him as the long man/6th starter
He had pretty good numbers away from Yankee stadium.
He will be in his walk year so he knows it’s so or die.
Worst case scenario you trade him at the deadline.
There is zero chance they’re bringing him back. Cashman has said publicly several times that Gray will be moved
You also can’t really tie up a roster spot that way.
Yankees will likely get the same kind of package for Gray that they got for McCann. A couple of high ceiling A-ball pitchers who throw very hard.
That would be nice. Abreu is #85 on MLB’s prospect list and Guzman was the headliner for the Stanton trade.
Your name is not funny, nor witty. #fail
If his name triggered you, we all know your political leanings. That explains a lot. #fail
Wrong, clown. I would give you #fail, but we all know you know #fail quite well.
Second that…. dumb
Zing!
Honestly, do you need to bash the guy for that? Or do you just get a kick from insulting people who did nothing to you?
Btw, your comments get 5 dislikes and only 1 like. So really, who is the real clown?
i thought i was going to be late but a friend gave me a ride so i was LIBerated from TARDiness.
Who cares what this guy thinks. I’m a huge conservative, but all people differ on there beliefs.
And I’m a conservative.
This whole exchange saddens me.
I could care less what you are. But what I do find ironic is your lack of restraint or awareness of you chiming in on a name when you have the name you have? What a joke!
You lose a bet to have to assume that name?
Hilarious
I only regret falling into your troll trap. This vain meaningless conversation is over.
.
Solid username, bro.
libtard
se tonight
Romper room rejects!
Tyler chatwood had “good road numbers” in Colorado last year. Be careful what you wish for . Every analytical thinker and follower said chatwood would be awesome.
I think that was his point…
Cole Hamels says hi.
I’ve been saying the braves should go get him all along…
Trade him to SF for a mid-to-low level prospect or two. AT&T is pitcher friendly, and he reunites with The A’s former pitching coach, Curt Young.
Itd make sense but the prospect would have to be really low-level because the Giants can’t afford to just give away prospects for rentals. I agree though, Gray is a fly-ball oriented pitcher and ATNT can make an average pitcher when healthy (Samardzija) look good at times.
Gray is a ground ball pitcher. I think Cashman will be able to get a useful piece for Gray. A solid reliever perhaps.
Joe Panik for Sonny Gray
That actually makes a lot of sense. I could definitely see that happening
I love this idea. It makes way too much sense.
Panik is better than Gray. I’m opposed to this sorry.
Even if his offense has gone downhill it’s been because of injuries and injuries only. His skill as a ball player hasn’t changed. Before his thumb injury he was hitting well and there was a series against Philadelphia where he looked like himself before he had more injury concerns and basically his entire season was thrown away. If he’s healthy he’s one of the best 2nd baseman in the game.
If he is healthy.
Lol, hes not even close to one of the best 2nd baseman in baseball. Are you a delusional giants fan or just trying to be funny?
Gray to Padres for Yates and Pirela
Pass. Trade yates DFA pirela. No sense in dragging down yates value with a guy you can just DFA.
Two former yankee greats deserve to come home
Keep him away from the Braves he is a head case and the Braves need a leader for the young kids in the rotation.
Bumgarner?
Bumgardner? HAH! In your dreams. Bum isn’t going anywhere.
With the Yankees apparent need for a 1st baseman would a deal with Philly make sense (for Santana)? Would it take some cash or decent prospect added to get NY to bite?
I would like to see SG in the middle of the Phil’s rotation. I want all the crazy stupid cash spent on bats and not arms in free agency.
Absolutely no interest in Santana even for free. Like Voit was better at one thirtieth of the cost. I’d rather keep gray, he can be traded at the deadline of necessary and his track record says he’s a quality pitcher . Yankee stadium just messed with his head.
Don’t think there is any chance. Santana could be had as a pure salary dump, I’d imagine. Doubt anyone really wants that contract.
Gray does appear to carry some value.
Santana goes to the Padres for Wil Myers and $35.8 mm to make the money work.
Santana plays 1B for the Padres because advanced metrics show that Santana is a better 1B than Hosmer. The Pads then move Hosmer to 3B because they’re so inventive.
Myers plays SS for the Phillies because all their hyped prospects washed out, leaving 87 year-old Asdrubal Cabrera as the SS on their depth chart when the ’18 season ended. Strike that – they sign Harper for 7 years, 472.13 mm to play SS.
The Phillies are equally inventive, so Hoskins will be moved to 2B to form a DP duo with Harper, and Myers will become the Catcher. Machado will be given $372.5 mm over 8 years to be their #4 starter and a part-time PH, as he continues in his quest to balloon up to Pablo Sandoval’s weight by 2020. Owner will file for bankruptcy in 2022.
Actually not a bad idea along with signing Keuchal, Brantley, and then trade for Dominique Santana of the Brewers and not a bad offseason
Would Brandon Belt be good in New York? Possible he’d be a 30 hr a year player there.
He’s not going to a team that isn’t planning on contending.
Who are you his agent? This isn’t Kershaw we’re talking about it’s Sonny Gray.
Which rebuilding team would give up prospects for a player who will be gone before they’re competitive? Doesn’t seem like a smart plan.
You obviously don’t understand how it works, FriendOfBoras. No one is discussing what Gray wants. It’s a matter of what the other teams want. No one wants to surrender prospects for 1 year of Gray if they aren’t currently contending.
His numbers away from Yankee stadium were solid.
Oakland could look to buy him back. Brewers could use the rotation help.
There’s a couple contenders that could certainly take a chance on him being their #4 #5.
Wouldn’t mind the Pirates and Yanks hooking up on another trade involving a SP. Burnett worked out well and Nova hasn’t been horrible
Pirates are one team as a Yankee fan I would demand some big prospect the way they handled the Cole trade. Huntington always try’s to destroy the other team in a trade while Cashman has said the best trades are the ones that both teams benefit. Neil Huntington doesn’t get that!
You are probably right but a team like the Reds could view him as a distressed asset that can be ‘fixed’ and flipped at the deadline.
Rebuilding teams also need capable starters to eat innings so that the young players can develop in a somewhat normalized setting.
And there’s always the possibility that he is so good he earns a qualifying offer and draft pick compensation.
What’s his projected ARV after the flip?
I like the idea of keeping him as a spot starter or long reliever and trading him at the deadline
Would love to see the Dodgers take a chance on him even though they have several starting pitchers. Maybe a Wood for Gray swap. Yankees may need to also include another minor leaguer or two.
I don’t know why everyone acts like he’s suddenly this dumpster fire. Take him out of that stadium and he’s what he’s always been, a low to mid 3s ERA/FIP pitcher. Pretty much all of his peripherals are the same, K/9 is the same, BB/9 went up just slightly, hits & HR went up more. Better away from NY. I’d take him.
Home: 6.26 ERA, .318 BAA, 1.90 WHIP in 15 games
Away: 3.17 ERA, .226 BAA, 1.15 WHIP in 15 games
This dude needed to be a “designated away pitcher” 😉
He also gave up 14 homers on the year, 11 of those at home.
Thanks for doing the research.
Saves me the time of doing it.
Sonny Gray was solid in relief too.
As a RP, Sonny Gray was 2-0 with 2.60 ERA in 17.1 IP
SSS
“twins in a division that may be there for the taking” …. 2nd place maybe
Cleveland doesn’t put the fear of God into any team in that division. Other than KC, I could see it possible for any team in that division to challenge them, if things go right.
Gray to Brewers for Thames
That might start a conversation, but definitely not a straight up swap. Gray is worth more than that.
So throw in a #20lottery ticket. The essentials are definitely there on both sides. Take Schoop if you wish too. It would give the Yanks depth, and he played a lot better in the East. I like the framework. We can argue on the secondary piece… it’s only one year of Gray, so you can’t get ridiculous!
Gray and Frazier to Atlanta for Teheran and Allard.
I like that trade, all Frazier needs is playing time
Here we go again with another Teheran trade. Allard is another one.
Don’t want Teheran and Frazier is needed security in the outfield and he needs to be given a shot to see if he is what we hoped he was. Yanks aren’t given him away for junk. I wouldn’t trade Frazier alone for that return.
How about Teheran and Gray even swap
Keep your pieces. Gray is a mistake that NYY is trying to reverse – luckily with the coin to absorb – and if Frazier was any good he would be cracking the line-up. Braves can do better than someone who is more known for cutting his hair upon being traded to NYY than doing anything at the MLB level and have the $$ and the assets to make it happen. We are about to see the Red Sox in next year’s World Series anyways – NYY pitching lacks depth and starters. No real 1B and the only piece that concerns the opposition is your corner OF/DH. NYY should be dishing Gray off for young pitching from anyone as Paxton or Sabathia – and consider it a good day if they don’t have to eat dollars in the process. Braves need to make a play for Haniger/SEA, Blackmon/COL or Castellanos/DET. Call Milwaukee, San Diego, LAA, LAD and KC for Tehreran. Whoever gives Braves the better minor league prospect(s) gets an affordable #4 starter with proven ability to no hit a team if he is on.
* Paxton and Sabathia are risk for injury
Neither Gray or Frazier want to be in New York, plain and simple. Neither will gain value until they’re traded away.
And you know this how?
They won’t gain value until they’re traded away????
REALLY!
And when was the last time the Braves were in the World Series?
Link to where you read that Frazier doesn’t want to be in NY.
YouTube link to where either said that in an interview.
Why do people always make these uninformed outlandish claims?
Who is the question for – because in one rant you appear to be shooting at multiple folks. When? A few years before the historical collapse in 2004 – but none of the folks on either team were around then so what’s the purpose of the question other than living in the past. Here are the facts. Pitching and D wins Championships and baseball is a young man’s sport – especially when you take substances out of the equation to lengthen careers. Right now the Braves are in a position of control – there is a core of young players, we have to get rid of some of the young pitching because there isnt enough room (thus multiple Teheran trade proposals) and there is a lot of $$ to play with as some money came off the books. Braves nearly got there sooner than planned and would have if 1) we had a much stronger back of the rotation and 2) Dansby’s wrist injury didn’t exposed Braves defensively – while he catches flack for his offense his defense has been huge and at times shows as the inspirator/motivator of the team. The best NYY would do with Gray is probably a #4 on someone’s roster who is willing to take a shot on a buy low scenario. So if thats not the desired route it would seem to me to get multiple (pitching) prospect pieces for him unless you want another OF to throw in the mix and push Frazier that much farther from seeing MLB light.
When were the Braves in the world series last? Google it. If the Yakees could fix Gray he wouldn’t be on the trade block with such a low trade value.
Braves were last in the World Series in 1999 and lost. They won the world series in 1995.
What’s wrong with Gray? Did he look like he was having a melt down on the mound? His FIP was still pretty decent. Give him to a national league team, and he could be an ace.
Given the familiarity with the org, if Eppler likes Gray, the Angels have to be the favorite. I could see them send Matt Thaiss straight for Gray giving the yanks a young 1b.
The Yankees should keep Sonny Gray; he’ll bounce back.
Gray, Jokecoby Ellsbury, and a TON of cash to the Braves for __________?
Freddie Freeman’s jock strap.
Bring him to St. Louis.
Gray to the angels for prospects and he gets back to his 2015 form.
Do the Angels have prospects??? Asking for a friend.
Yea they do have prospects, I think the angels could trade Matt Thaiss or other prospects for him.
Not sure why he’s connected to the Reds, isn’t their park a hitters park like Yankee stadium? Wouldn’t be idea surely
Gray is connected to the Reds because they have publicly stated they will acquire starters this offseason….coupled with the fact that his pitching coach at Vanderbilt is the new Reds pitching coach who they took from Milwaukee. Add that Caselli was also his college catcher…and the attraction is natural
Gray’s a good pitcher, Daniels a bad GM., Manager and Coaches Unknown. Don’t see Gray getting close to the Rangers this year.
Gray is actually a bargain for some team, a 1 WAR player is worth 8 million a year, and Gray was a 1.7 last year in a bad year. His upside is a 3.5- 3.8 WAR which he has already had in Oakland. He is worth the gamble, and he might even go to a contender. Many of last year’s free agents made more money and pitched worse.
Gray for Camargo? My trade proposals suck