Yankees Rumors: Eight potential offseason moves for Brian Cashman
By Paul Ashley
As the 2017 New York Yankees shocked everyone with how soon they were able to win, the front office decided to make a deal with the Oakland Athletics for a young top of the rotation arm prior to the trade deadline.
Sonny Gray was acquired from the Oakland A’s with the hopes that he would, at the very least, be a steady top of the rotation presence for the remainder of 2017 and the remainder of his years under team control (2018, 2019). Unfortunately, the trade has not worked in the Yankees favor as Gray has only been able compile a 15-16 record while allowing 104 runs through195.2 innings pitched.
Although his 3.72 ERA and 1.255 WHIP were not bad through the 11 starts he made for the Yankees in 2017, his performance as a starting pitcher in 2018 caused him to become a relief pitcher that made occasional spot starts after the team acquired Happ and Lynn.
As a starter, Gray compiled a 9-9 record with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.496 WHIP. As a reliever, he compiled a 2-0 record with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.500 WHIP. He made 23 starts and 7 relief appearances during the 2018 season.
Despite his poor performance in the Bronx, there will be suitors for the services of Gray in the offseason. The soon-to-be 29-year-old starting pitcher will be entering his 7th MLB season in 2019 and he has already compiled 59 wins through 155 career games pitched.
This includes a 2015 season in which he compiled a 14-7 record with a 2.73 ERA, a 3.45 FIP, and a 1.082 WHIP through 208.0 innings pitched. As the velocity and movement are there for Gray, a team will likely take a chance on him if they feel a change of scenery will fix his issues.
Another reason a team will likely take a chance on Gray are due to his home and road splits during 2018. Through 15 games in the Bronx, he compiled a 6.98 ERA and a 1.904 WHIP. Through 15 games on the road, he compiled a 3.17 ERA and a 1.155 WHIP.
The Yankees are unlikely to receive a package that is similar to the one they sent out for Gray (Dustin Fowler, James Kaprielian, and Jorge Mateo), but they could salvage the trade by acquiring a player that can contribute immediately in 2019.
This could come in the form of a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers by swapping Gray for relief pitcher Jordan Lyles. Lyles pitched to a 4.11 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and 1.266 WHIP through 87.2 innings pitched as a starter and a reliever between his time with the San Diego Padres and the Brewers.
As a relief pitcher in 2018, he pitched to a 3.32 ERA and a 1.156 WHIP through 40.2 innings pitched. After being traded to the Brewers, he pitched to a 3.31 ERA, 2.49 FIP, and a 1.286 WHIP in 16.1 innings pitched. He also only allowed 3 hits and 1 walk without giving up a run in 7.1 innings during the month of September.
As Lyles has a 93.6 mph fastball average to go alongside an 89.1 mph slider, an 83.5 mph curveball, and an 85.9 mph change-up, he could fit right in within a talented Yankees bullpen. Lyles is under contract for $3.5 million in 2019 while Gray is expected to receive $9.1 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility.