MLB trade rumors: How Yankees can flip Sonny Gray for Didi Gregorius’ replacement at shortstop

New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius will miss the beginning of the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery. General manager Brian Cashman could dump right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray to the Toronto Blue Jays for Gregorius’ replacement, effectively solving two problems with one move.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is not hiding the fact he wants to trade right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, who has been a huge disappointment in pinstripes.

Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith has an idea how Cashman can kill two birds with one stone: Dump Gray and get a replacement for Didi Gregorius at shortstop, thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays, who are in the process of rebuilding:

Aledmys Diaz, on the other hand, has some trade value given his four years of team control remaining and ability to handle short or third. The 28-year-old posted a 106 OPS+ with 18 homers in 2018, so his value has presumably risen since last winter, when the Blue Jays obtained him for J.B. Woodman, a low-A outfielder who was old for his level.

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Cleveland looks like a possible suitor given Jason Kipnis’ declining offence and Josh Donaldson’s upcoming free agency. A better fit might exist in New York, though. The Yankees are looking to trade Sonny Gray and need infield help while Didi Gregorius recovers from Tommy John surgery. A Gray-Diaz swap would give them insurance in case they can’t land Manny Machado.

As for the Blue Jays, Gray’s admittedly a counter-intuitive target since he’s a free agent after the year. That gives the Toronto front office just one shot to convert the right-hander into prospects. But Gray has pitched well everywhere except Yankee Stadium, so there’s real bounce-back potential here. Think of it as an upside play: high-risk, high-reward.

In the balance, the Blue Jays could fairly trade Diaz to New York for Gray and a low-level prospect, someone like Trevor Lane, a left-handed reliever who struck out 82 hitters over 68 innings between high-A and double-A this year.

Ex-Yankees in the playoffs

Since coming over from the Oakland A’s before the 2017 trade deadline, Gray has gone 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA in in 41 games, making 34 starts before being banished to the Yankees’ bullpen.

Gregorius had Tommy John surgery Wednesday and will miss the beginning of the 2019 season.

The 28-year-old Diaz made his major league debut with the Cardinals in 2016, earning a spot in the All-Star Game and finishing fifth in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

St. Louis traded Diaz to Toronto following the 2017 season.

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