The All-Star break has come and gone, and now baseball shifts into one of the most pivotal times of the season. From now until July 31, teams have the opportunity to help themselves for the present or the future via trade.
With the trade deadline approaching quickly, teams have little time to decide whether they’ll buy or sell come July 31. Some teams already plan to sell and rebuild for the future. One of those clubs is the Oakland Athletics.
The A’s have some key trade chips that they can use to get some young talent back. None of their players are more valuable than right-handed starting pitcher Sonny Gray. More than likely, the A’s trade him by the deadline.
A team in contention can never have enough pitching, and Gray’s the type of pitcher that brings ace material to the rotation. Gray won’t come cheap, especially after the price the Cubs paid for Jose Quintana this week. In a market that demands a lot of pitching, the A’s look to get a good haul of prospects in return for the 27-year-old.
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In five big league seasons, Gray owns a 43-45 record, 3.46 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 592 strikeouts. His record doesn’t do him justice. His team has failed to give optimal run support and defensive support during portions of his career.
Gray had a career year in 2015. He posted an ERA of 2.73, a 14-7 record, a 1.082 WHIP and 169 strikeouts. His pitching earned him an All-Star selection and he also finished third in the AL Cy Young voting.
Injury trouble in 2016 led to the worst season of his career. He finished with a 5.69 ERA, a 5-11 record, a 1.496 WHIP and 94 strikeouts. His injury problems carried into 2017 and he missed the first month.
After starting the season on the DL, Gray has bounced back and pitched well in 2017. He owns a 5-4 record, a 3.72 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP and 79 strikeouts.
Gray’s presence and talent could help any club in contention. Let’s take a look at some potential landing spots for him.