Cincinnati Reds: Three year contract extension given to Sonny Gray as trade with Yankees is complete
By Jason Evans
Cincinnati Reds signed Sonny Gray to a three year extension as trade with New York Yankees is completed
The Cincinnati Reds continued their off-season of adding by adding again to their rotation by acquiring Sonny Gray. Unlike Tanner Roark and Alex Wood, the Reds were able to lock in Gray for the long haul.
Here’s how the deal breaks down:
Cincinnati Reds Acquire: Sonny Gray and LHP Reiver Sanmartin (From Yankees)
New York Yankees Acquire: OF Josh Stowers (from Mariners) 36th overall pick in 2019 (From Reds)
Seattle Mariners Acquire: 2B Shed Long (From Reds through Yankees)
Sonny Gray has been traded to the Cincinnati Reds, a source familiar with the deal tells ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2019
The Sonny Gray deal may turn out to be a three-way trade, league sources tell ESPN. Seattle is sending center field prospect Josh Stowers to the Yankees, sources said, and Shed Long is expected to go to the Mariners.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 21, 2019
There are many escalators in Sonny’s new deal, but if Sonny doesn't make any of them (but does get the 4th year option picked up), then the extension total is worth $42.5M over 4. When adding in 2019, that makes if exactly $50M over 5. #reds
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 21, 2019
For the Reds, it gives them an anchor at the top of their rotation moving forward. He’s a pitcher who I liked as a sleeper candidate in fantasy baseball this year due to his pitching outside of Yankee Stadium. New Reds pitching coach Derrick Johnson was Gray’s coach in college, which could be to Gray’s benefit.
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Home: 6.98 ERA. 45 strikeouts in 59 innings. Opponent slash line: .315/.406/.527
Away: 3.17 ERA 78 strikeouts in 71 innings. Opponent slash line: .223/.295/.320
For the Mariners, they get another prospect they can use in their system. Long was the Reds 7th ranked prospect according to MLBpipeline.com. Long gives them middle infield depth and another bat to build upon.
For the Yankees, Stowers was the Mariners 10th ranked prospect according to MLBpipeline.com. He hit .260 with a .790 OPS and 20 steals in short season ball. He was the 54th overall pick in last year’s draft. Add that, plus the comp pick and it gives them even more depth in the lower minors.
Next. How should Reds use Lorenzen?. dark
The Yankees had to unload Gray and they were able to get themselves two lottery tickets. The Cincinnati Reds have a pitcher they can have a the top of their rotation moving forward and the Mariners get an upper level minors piece that could provide them more depth and a possible piece to their future.
This deal could help everyone involved.