MLB trade rumors: Is awful Sonny Gray pushing Yankees to get pitcher?

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman discusses whether Sonny Gray’s struggles will force him to push harder to trade for a starting pitcher.

Watch video

NEW YORK — Sonny Gray didn’t excuse himself.

Actually, it was more like he set himself on fire, calling his effort in Sunday’s 11-0 drubbing at the hands of the Red Sox “embarrassing.” 

“I haven’t beat a lot of teams since I’ve been here,” Gray said. “I’ve been bad against the Red Sox, I’ve been bad against a lot of teams. I don’t think one particular team you can say has my number or whatever. I’ve been bad against multiple teams.”

10 Yankees prospects most likely to be traded

Gray had coughed up six earned runs in just 2 1/3 innings, the team’s shortest non-injury outing by a starting pitcher this season.

It ran his ERA up to an ugly 5.44 in 16 starts. 

Still, Gray’s poor performance isn’t enough to make general manager Brian Cashman push harder in the starting pitching trade market, Cashman told reporters on Sunday.

“I was pursuing a starter regardless,” Cashman said. “I’ve been pursuing a starter since last winter, last summer. We’re always in pursuit of starting pitching.”

Since the Yankees sent three highly-regarded prospects to the A’s for Gray, 28, last trade deadline, he’s been a disaster.

He’s 9-13 in 27 starts with a 4.68 ERA. This season, the Yankees are 7-9 when Gray starts and 46-18 with other starters.

Cashman added that he doesn’t expect to add another catcher in the absence of Gary Sanchez, who will probably spend at least another couple weeks on the disabled list with a right groin strain.

The Yankees are going with the combo of backup Austin Romine and third-stringer Kyle Higashioka. On Saturday, Romine had to leave the game with soreness in his left hamstring. An MRI on the hamstring didn’t show any damage but manager Aaron Boone gave him off Sunday.

“Easier said than done,” Cashman said about trading for a catcher. “t’s a very thin area. Look forward to getting Gary Sanchez back, keeping both Romine and Higashioka healthy. But I doubt there’s a scenario will be able to improve upon the depth, because there’s not a lot of great catching around the game.

“Trying to improve on that isn’t going to be easy. I would say, don’t hold your breath.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.