Milwaukee Brewers: What’s the latest on Sonny Gray?

The New York Yankees added Lance Lynn. Does this mean Sonny Gray is on the way out? Could the Milwaukee Brewers work out a trade?

Yankees starter Sonny Gray has fallen so far out of favor in New York that the Bronx Bombers added Lance Lynn from the Minnesota Twins. Should the Milwaukee Brewers have Yankees GM Brian Cashman on the phone?

What’s wrong with Gray?

Nothing really? Gray had a health scare a few days ago after a comebacker hit his thumb. X-rays were negative, and he won’t miss any time. However, his issues in New York aren’t related to his health. He’s been awful in New Yankee Stadium. In 46 1/3 innings in New York, Gray has a 6.80 ERA. He’s allowed nine homers and owns a 36:28 K:BB ratio in New York.

The Yankees don’t think he can succeed at home, and it’s rumored that they could cut ties with Gray before the deadline.

How’s Gray on the road?

Pretty much normal. In 54 2/3 innings on the road, Gray owns a 3.62 ERA with 60 strikeouts and only 16 walks. He’s only allowed three homers on the road this year.

And what about his contract?

He’s signed through 2018 for $6.5 million, and has one year of arbitration left before he hits free agency in 2020. Gray is currently in his age-29 season.

Didn’t the Brewers try to deal for Gray last year?

It was a hot trade deadline rumor that the Milwaukee Brewers were in on Gray last year. It was never announced how far they progressed in trade talks or what the package was.

What would it take for the Brewers to add Gray?

That’s a really good question. It’s unlikely that the Yankees would want lottery tickets from the Minors. This might end up as a Major Leaguer-for-Major Leaguer deal. The Yankees could use a DH/First Baseman. Is Eric Thames and a capable arm, like Adrian Houser, tempt them into dealing Gray? The only way to find out is for David Stearns to pick up the phone.

The addition of Lynn gives the Yankees six starters on the Major League roster. Top prospect Justus Sheffield is only a phone call away at Triple-A. The Yankees have sufficient depth to deal Gray and not miss him. A deal with the Milwaukee Brewers would allow the Yankees to pick up the bat they need, and flip an arm that they clearly don’t want. A change of scenery would allow a player like Thames to get full-time at-bats in a hitter’s haven, and provide Gray with a new home park. This deal is unlikely to occur, but it could solve key issues that both teams need to overcome in order to have a deep playoff run.