The New York Yankees have been trying to unload starting pitch Sonny Gray since the end of the 2018 season, simply because he doesn’t seem to be a fit in New York.
Last season, Gray was dropped from the starting rotation – he was factored in as a relief option but struggled with his control and effectiveness on the mound. In 2018, Gray’s ERA was 3.71, which was 10th best in the American League. He also ranked 9th in WHIP.
Sonny Gray’s ‘home’ VS ‘away’ game with the New York Yankees:
Looking back, you can see that Sonny was much better during ‘away’ games than at home at Yankee Stadium. He had a 3.17 ERA, .226 BAA and 1.15 WHIP during ‘away’ games. The primary reason the Yanks are trying to unload him is because, well, he’s not a good ‘home’ pitcher.
Several teams have inquired about Gray, including Cincinnati, San Diego, Milwaukie, and Oakland.
Source: #Brewers remain prominent in Sonny Gray talks with #Yankees. #Reds were involved earlier this offseason but have faded somewhat due to additions of Wood and Roark. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 28, 2018
Some positives that still remain for the pitcher – he’s still young at 29 years-old. He can still be efficient in a less pressurized environment, something that Yankee Stadium doesn’t offer. The Yankees recently traded for James Paxton and resigned J.A. Happ, which constitutes a full rotation.
Looking at Sonny Gray’s change in stats:
Finding a proper suitor for Gray will take some time, but I’m confident a deal will eventually reach the surface. There’s still plenty of value to be extracted from the former Athletic. His strikeout rate increased in the Bronx, despite his ERA being a full-run higher than it was in Oakland (4.51 with NY, 3.42 with the A’s).
The Yankees play in one of the more hitter-friendly parks in the AL, which doesn’t bode well for Gray who seems to have lost his touch with a short right-field fence. Moving to a different ball-park might be the change he needs to regain his old form.