Yankees should trade Sonny Gray for Scooter Gennett

Despite a miserable 2018 season, the trade market for Sonny Gray is reportedly hot. Should the Yankees send him to the Reds for the likes of second baseman Scooter Gennett, all parties involved should be pleased.

It’s not a matter of if, rather when the Yankees deal Sonny Gray. And even though the right-hander proved unable to succeed in New York, there’s plenty of interest in the 29-year-old, notably from the Athletics, Braves, Padres, Reds, Rangers and Twins.

However,  I recently spoke with some Yankee fans about free agent Patrick Corbin — and even though his numbers look to play out extremely well in Yankee Stadium, these supporters couldn’t help but point out the same was once said about Gray.

While I contend that Gray and Corbin are very different pitchers, especially considering Corbin’s devastating slider produced a 53.9 swing and miss rate in 2018, some still worry that overpaying for a player with upside is dangerous — when proven in small doses.

Gray, tried as he might, failed to live up to the massive expectations that came with being acquired for three top 10 prospects.

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But look at the players that were sent to Oakland. Pitcher James Kaprielian has yet to throw a single inning because of injury. Infielder Jorge Mateo is stuck at Triple-A, as high game has encountered a significant plateau.

And only outfielder Dustin Fowler (who I was genuinely upset to see leave at the time) has played in 69 big league games for the A’s, slashing .224/.256/.354 with six home runs, 23 RBIs and 47 strikeouts in just 192 at-bats.

Yes, each is young enough to turn it around, but if you haven’t noticed, the rebuild in the Bronx is complete. Aaron Boone’s bunch have to win now.

My rebuttal is this; if the Yanks flip Gray for a piece that they genuinely need right now — someone like second baseman Scooter Gennett, that is capable of stepping into the starting lineup and delivering until Didi Gregorius returns sometime in August, then all the muck endured over the past 18 months would have been worth it.

Gennett, 28, is entering his final year of arbitration and is projected to make $10.7 million in 2019 according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Considering Gennett plays a position that the Reds minor league system has an abundance of (namely top prospects Nick Senzel and Shed Long), Gennett’s left-handed stick, ability to play multiple positions (third base and all three outfield spots) and production off the bench should be of significant interest to the Yanks.

Over the last two seasons, culminating in his first All-Star Game appearance in 2018, Gennett has slashed .303/.351/.508 with 166 runs scored, 52 doubles, 50 home runs and 189 RBIs.

While there are a number of suitable second baseman on the open market, shedding Gray and his projected $9.1 million arbitration figure from the 25-man roster for a legit threat in the everyday lineup seems like a win to me. The Yanks would then have until next offseason to decide whether or not to re-sign Gennett as a super-sub or use his salary to fill other holes.