MLB: No Gray Area
The New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics have finally completed their deal for starting pitcher Sonny Gray. After weeks of posturing and negotiations, the Yankees will be sending three prospects to the A’s in return for the right hander.
OF Dustin Fowler (No. 4), who suffered a knee injury, SS/OF Jorge Mateo (No. 8), and RHP James Kaprielian (No. 12), who suffered an elbow injury, are all on the move. All three players were ranked in the top-12 in the Yankees' farm system according to MLB Pipeline.
Fowler blew out his knee before his first plate appearance in his very first game last year. If he can regain form, he profiles as a potential 20-20 guy from the left side of the plate. He’s made strides defensively and his floor may be as a four outfielder.
Kaprielian is also out for the year, undergoing Tommy John Surgery in April. Before the surgery, his fastball sat at 93-96 m.p.h., while touching 99 m.p.h. occasionally. His secondary stuff also grades out as plus during the times he’s been healthy. Health permitting he could be a frontline arm in the future.
The last piece of the deal, Jorge Mateo was considered untouchable by the organization as early as last summer. A trade for Gleybar Torres last year made his Yankees future a bit murky. He has plus speed and a strong arm, and could potentially move to centerfield or second base, but has the tools to stay at short. Mateo struggled before his promotion to Double-A Trenton, but has since slashed .300/.381/.525 in 30 games. The A’s, while not getting someone as glamorous as Torres, managed to bring in a good haul. The star of this trade, however, is the ever reliable Sonny Gray a fantastic midseason for pick up the Bronx Bombers.
He will step in right away for the injured Michael Pineda, who will need Tommy John on his injured elbow. Gray brings a 6-5 record with a 3.43 ERA to a staff that was just bolstered with the addition of lefty Jaime Garcia. Gray has started to find his form of late, with a 1.37 ERA, 36 strikeouts, and nine walks in his past six trips to the hill.
He’s also only 27-years-old and is under team control for two more years. Gray and Garcia round a strong Yankees rotation and even stronger bullpen. These two moves signal the return to relevance and potential dominance for this “New” Yankees team. A team that can not only outspend you, but one that has grown its players, stocked up its farm and is now ready to contend for years to come.
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