Sonny Gray (Oakland Athletics)
2016 Stats: 3-4/6.00 ERA/4.2 BB9/7.8 SO9/4.48 FIP
Sonny Gray has not been the Sonny Gray that we’ve all come to know the past couple years. Being only 26 years old, the A’s young ace has been one of the better starting pitchers in the game since he entered the MLB in 2013. He has never really gone through the early career struggles that many young pitchers too during his first couple seasons, so that makes his struggles in 2016 a bit concerning.
Currently, Gray has an ERA of 6.00 and has a walk rate of 4.2 per nine innings, which are both career high’s for the right hander. Gray has been a successful pitcher by controlling his pitches and attacking hitters, which allows him to go deep into games. He has not ended a season with a walk rate per nine innings above 3.0 in his career, which shows the type of control Gray possesses. However, his strikeout numbers right now are on par with what his career average is.
Like all pitchers who pitch in Oakland, they are benefited from the far fences and wide foul territory. But Gray’s success should not be defined by where he has pitched. His ability to limit his walks and his solid pitch arsenal will make him a top of the rotation type in pretty much any starting rotation. People should expect Gray to get back to the type of pitcher he has been as the season wears on.
Even if Gray doesn’t return to the dominant pitcher he has been, teams may try and buy him while his value is low. This may help to build a bigger market for his services, but it will still take a couple of top prospects and other pieces to get the young ace. Gray will just be entering arbitration after this season, and won’t be a free agent until 2020. His success and controllability will make him one of the most sought after players on the trade market of the A’s decide to put him out there. The Athletics probably won’t be a playoff contender and Billy Beane has traded star players before. Just don’t expect him to part with Gray unless he is getting substantial value in return.
Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers
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