New York Yankees Editorial: Should the Yankees Try and Trade for Sonny Gray?

With the New York Yankees off-season officially under way, one of their biggest needs for 2016 is starting pitching.

Brian Cashman will likely bring back Nathan Eovaldi and Ivan Nova, meaning the entire 2015 pitching staff will remain in tact for 2016, but as we saw on display all season long, this group doesn’t insure quality or depth from the hill. There are simply too many question marks surrounding the group when it comes to health and durability – which is why the Yankees should do everything in their power to land an ace.

As Heyman noted in The New York Post, the general notion around the MLB is that Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman won’t overspend on big-name free agents like David Price, Jordan Zimmerman, Johnny Cueto or Zack Greinke (should he become available), meaning the only way they can potentially land a big-arm is via trade.

Last winter the Yankees and Blue Jays inquired on the availability of A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson, and of course Billy Beane said he was untouchable. The Yankees moved on while Alex Anthopoulos and the Jays front-office refused to take ‘no’ for an answer, ultimately snagging the AL MVP-bound Donaldson from the A’s for Brett Lawrie and prospects Franklin Barreto, Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin. Sure the Jays gave up a ton, but they acquired a difference maker, and Donaldson is a big reason why the Jays are playing in the American League Divisional Series while the Yankees will be sitting on their couches.

Anyway, this brings me to the 25-year old ace Sonny Gray.

Similar to Donaldson last winter, the A’s will currently say Sonny Gray is untouchable, but the young right-hander is just so good, that the Yankees should refuse to take ‘no’ for an answer and exercise all extremes to acquire the star. Heyman insists that a trade package including Jorge Mateo, Aaron Judge an Gary Sanchez might be enough to land Sonny Gray, but who knows when it comes to Billy Beane.

Personally, I think a package involving all three of the aforementioned prospects is far too much to give up for even the talented Sonny Gray, but a package involving two-of-the three while including either Ivan Nova or Rob Refsnyder might suffice.

Luis Severino and Sonny Gray can lead the Yankees staff while Eovaldi, Pineda and Tanaka can just worry about remaining healthy and contributing to the starting rotation.

The A’s will have one more year of team control over Gray in 2016 before he’s arbitration eligible, in which case he might become too expansive for the A’s payroll.

What do you think Yankees fans? Let us know in the comments below.

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