Well, in what’s been a year and a half experiment go awry, the Yankees have come to the realization that it’s a “Gray” day for Sonny Gray in New York.
In the season closing press conference Yankees, General Manager Brian Cashman said that Sonny Gray may be better suited elsewhere. So we’ll take a look at five potential landing spots for a Sonny Gray trade. (In no particular order.)
Yankees are open-minded to trading Sonny Gray, says Brian Cashman. pic.twitter.com/CbezfLuhRQ
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) October 12, 2018
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
There have been a lot of rumors since the regular season ended that the Diamondbacks are actively shopping their stars. Players like Zack Greinke and Paul Goldschmidt have already been speculated to be connected to the Yankees and if those rumors are to be believed then Sonny Gray could easily become part of a deal involving the D-Backs.
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Although the Brewers are in the playoffs and employing a modified “bullpenning” attack. They will use a more “traditional” pitching approach in the regular season and with that looking towards 2019 they can use reinforcements.
With that being said, the Brewers pitching coach has a direct connection with Sonny Gray. Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson was Gray’s coach during his time at Vanderbilt and reconnecting with Johnson may give Gray the stability he has seemingly lack in his time in the Bronx.
3. Seattle Mariners
The most active GM in baseball is likely to be on the hot seat in 2019. As Jerry DiPoto has made a ton of moves since becoming the Mariners GM and with Seattle facing the longest active playoff drought in North American sports something must be done.
The Yanks and Mariners have hooked up for trades this season. So another deal isn’t out of the realm of possibility. If Sonny Gray finds his way to the northwest in the expansive ballpark that is Safeco Field, he can field the success he once had in Oakland.
4. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Angels Gm Billy Eppler and Yankees GM Brian Cashman are close friends. And prior to going to Anaheim to be the GM Eppler was a part of Cashman’s team on the Yanks. So it would make sense given where the two clubs are on the win-curve that they could potentially work out a deal.
Sonny Gray is not a bad pitcher but he has not been able to handle the limelight if the big city. Anaheim could provide Gray the avoidance to the spotlight he seems to need to succeed. Trading for one of the Angels starters in a one for one trade seems the most likely trade to be worked between these clubs.
5. San Francisco Giants
Another potential landing spot for Sonny Gray would be the San Francisco Giants. Although the Giants’ farm system isn’t quite what it once was it still holds some potential hidden gems in it and with the injury to Didi Gregorius, the Yankees can explore the avenues of a potential Joe Panik or maybe even the sure-handed Brandon Crawford to even out a deal.