MLB trade rumors: Market for Yankees’ Sonny Gray is heating up

by Felix Pantaleón

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has gone on the record as saying he wants to trade pitcher Sonny Gray. Several teams have expressed interest the right-hander, including the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Oakland A’s.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman kick-started the hot stove on Monday by trading for Seattle Mariners left-hander James Paxton.

We know that won’t be Cashman’s last deal of the offseason, because he has gone on the record as saying he wants to move right-hander Sonny Gray.

Here’s the latest, per the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo:

As we reported three weeks ago, the Athletics have shown considerable interest in trying to reacquire him, but many other smaller-market teams, such as the Braves, Padres, Rangers, and Twins, have also expressed interest. So, Cashman will likely be able to get prospects back for Gray, or he could flip him for a good late-inning reliever since David Robertson and Zach Britton are possible free agent defections.

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Gray has failed to live up to his potential following the 2017 non-waiver trade deadline with the A’s.

He’s 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA since coming over from Oakland. By the end of the 2018 season, Gray had been banished to the bullpen and finished with a 11-9 record and 4.90 ERA.

Cashman tipped his hand about Gray during the GM Meetings earlier this month, per NJ Advance Media’s Brendan Kuty:

“I think it’s probably best to try this somewhere else,” Cashman said of Gray.

…

“This environment can bring out the best in certain individuals,” the GM said. “It can bring out, obviously, the worst in certain individuals. This is a unique environment.”

…

“Someone, if they trade for him, is going to get the player that we wanted,” Cashman said.

He added, “It hasn’t worked out this far. I think he’s extremely talented. I think that we’ll enter the winter unfortunately open minded to a relocation. Probably to maximize his abilities would be more likely best somewhere else. But then it comes down to the final decision of the price in terms of trade acquisition and matching up with somebody, if we match up.”

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