The New York Yankees traded three top prospects for Sonny Gray prior to the 2017 trade deadline. As he has not lived up to expectations in the Bronx, other teams in the MLB may want to give him a chance.
According the Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, several teams sent scouts to watch New York Yankees Sonny Gray pitch in his first start of the second half.
"Are the Yankees trying to move Gray? That’s the impression some teams are getting. The feeling seems to be he belongs in a smaller market. The Yankees could turn around and flip prospects for a front-line starter."
Sonny Gray currently holds a 5.34 ERA, a 4.41 FIP, and a 1.49 WHIP through 19 starts for the Yankees this season. Last season, he held a 3.72 ERA, a 4.87 FIP, and a 1.26 WHIP through 11 starts after being traded to the Yankees.
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Gray’s career ERA is 3.66, his career FIP is 3.75, and his career WHIP is 1.24. As Gray’s numbers with the Yankees are all above his career averages, it makes sense for team to think that he may return to his normal solid numbers outside of the spotlight in New York.
The Yankees sent out Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian, and Jorge Mateo to acquire Gray and international signing money from the Athletics in July of 2017. At the time, it looked like a great trade for the Yankees. Even though the prospects were highly touted, they were expendable as the Yankees have a crowded roster full of talented players.
However, the Yankees would probably now prefer to have those three prospects back in order to move them for a more attractive piece in July of 2018.
Despite Gray’s poor numbers overall with the Yankees, he has pitched well over his last two starts. Gray is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA between a road start against the Orioles and a home start against the Mets with the All-Star break sandwhiched inbetween. In those two starts, he has pitched 11.1 innings while allowing 6 hits and 4 walks with 14 strikeouts.
Gray’s last two starts could either give the Yankees more leverage in a trade, or they could give the Yankees hope that he will be a solid starter in the second half.
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I would not expect to see him traded unless the New York Yankees have a deal set in place for an impact starting pitcher (Jacob deGrom, Chris Archer, etc.) that is based around prospects they would receive for Sonny Gray from another team.