The MLB trade deadline (well, the one that matters) is Monday, and there are still a few deals coming down to the wire. Oakland is apparently in talks with multiple teams about starter Sonny Gray, and with Gray scheduled to start Sunday, there was always going to be a bit of an issue.
USA Today‘s Bob Klapisch is reporting that Gray won’t even make Sunday’s start:
#A’s are expected to pull Sonny Gray from tomorrow’s start against #Twins, as requested by multiple teams involved in trade talks.
— Bob Klapisch (@BobKlap) July 29, 2017
This does make a certain amount of sense. The last thing Oakland wants is for Gray to get shelled (would probably damage his value a bit) or hurt (would torpedo his value); even if he were to throw a shutout, it’s not like teams are going to suddenly toss in bigger prospects. Plus, any start made for Oakland is a start not made for his new team.
As to which teams are involved in the bidding, the Yankees definitely are:
Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier are NOT the hangup in a Sonny Gray deal, source says. #Athletics and #Yankees discussing other prospects.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 29, 2017
That’s signaled perhaps more obviously by Buster Olney, whose shoulders are likely pretty tired from carrying Brian Cashman’s water around:
A question being asked among executives is: Who, besides the Yankees, is heavily invested in pursuit of Sonny Gray right now?
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 29, 2017
The Dodgers make some sense, for one, and it’s not like other teams wouldn’t want to be involved. Regardless, Gray is likely not to pitch again until after the trade deadline whether or not he’s moved before it happens. So hey, actual deadline drama! That’s kind of fun!
We’ll have to wait and see whether or not it actually happens this time, though. Wouldn’t want a repeat of the David Kaplan mess from a few weeks back.
CSN Chicago’s David Kaplan falls for fake Sonny Gray rumor, then refuses to take the L
