The New York Yankees hoped they were getting a front-line starting pitcher when they acquired Sonny Gray in a trade with the Oakland A’s last season. Instead, they ended up with a player whom they could not justify having on their postseason roster. In all likelihood, Gray has thrown his last pitch in pinstripes.
During his end of the year press conference on Friday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was surprisingly candid in confirming that the team will look to trade Gray this winter.
Cashman on Gray: Yankees will enter offseason” open to a relocation.” Also “it’s probably best to try this somewhere else.” So, Sonny Gray is on the trading block.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 12, 2018
Cashman says he’ll be seeking a trade for Gray, for his sake and the sake of the Yankees. So, on a day when Cashman was pretty guarded about offseason, he was clear on Sonny Gray. If he finds a trade for him, he’s getting moved out of here.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 12, 2018
While it is unusual for a GM to admit he wants a player gone, Cashman made it clear that he believes a change will be best for both Gray and the Yankees.
“Someone that if they trade for him is going to get the player that we wanted.”
Cashman on Gray
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) October 12, 2018
After posting a 3.72 ERA in 11 starts with New York last season, Gray made 30 starts this year and was knocked around in most of them. He finished with an ERA of 4.90 and matched his career-worst mark with a 1.50 WHIP. Cashman is understandably disappointed with the way the trade worked out, and Gray has clearly fallen out of the good graces of the Yankee fan base. Keeping him wouldn’t make a lot of sense.
