New York Gets Sonny Gray From Oakland For Prospects

During the trade deadline, teams improve offensively, defensively as well as their starting pitching and bullpen.

New York improved their starting rotation by acquiring pitcher Sonny Gray from Oakland today. 

The Yankees believe that they significantly improved their chances of securing championship No. 28 on Monday, pulling off one of the afternoon's biggest moves by acquiring right-hander Sonny Gray from the Athletics in exchange for three top prospects. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

With about an hour remaining before the non-waiver Trade Deadline, the Yanks agreed to swap outfielder Dustin Fowler, infielder Jorge Mateo and right-handed pitcher James Kaprielian to Oakland in exchange for the 27-year-old Gray, who was widely viewed as one of the top available starters in the marketplace. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

"I think we've definitely improved ourselves," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "When I look at ownership and the front office, they've given us an opportunity to do something special here. Now we have to go out and do it." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Fowler, Mateo, and Kaprielian were ranked as the fourth-, eighth- and 12th-best prospects, respectively, in the Yankees' farm system by MLBPipeline.com. The Yanks are also receiving $1.5 million in international bonus pool money. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Gray is expected to be at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, and he will be joining a Yankees club that opened play on Monday with a 56-47 record, a half-game ahead of the Red Sox in the American League East. Girardi said that he was not sure when Gray would make his first start for the club. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

"We've been playing well all year and this is a good team; it's a great core," CC Sabathia said. "We've kind of went back to our same old Yankees -- the goal is to win the World Series. We're here now." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Gray was 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts this year, and he is expected to bolster a rotation that remains in contention despite recently losing right-hander Michael Pineda to season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery." according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Gray also serves as a long-term acquisition, as he is working on a one-year, $3.575 million contract. Gray is eligible for salary arbitration for two more seasons beyond this one, meaning he is not eligible for free agency until after the 2019 season. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

"Any time you're able to make a move and get better, not just for the present but for the future as well, I think it's exciting," Brett Gardner said. "We've got two important months coming up and a lot of baseball left to play, but I like where we're at right now, and I like the team that we have." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Oakland's first-round selection (18th overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft, Gray was 4-2 with a 1.37 ERA over his final six starts with the club. A 2015 AL All-Star, Gray was 44-36 with a 3.42 ERA in 114 games (112 starts) over parts of five seasons with the A's (2013-17). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

"I know that he's somebody that can slide into any rotation and automatically make the team better," Gardner said. "He's somebody that I think we're all excited to get to know. We're excited to get him over here and work alongside him. I think he's going to be a big boost for us.""according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

While the Yankees were widely viewed as the front-runners to land Gray, general manager Brian Cashman had refused to part with outfielder Clint Frazier and infielder Gleyber Torres in the negotiations. The A's also coveted outfielder Estevan Florial, another leading prospect, but were rebuffed. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Fowler and Kaprielian are both out for the season with injuries, though both players are expected to return in 2018. Fowler's Major League debut was cut short by a knee injury in the top of the first inning on June 29 against the White Sox, while Kaprielian -- New York's first-round Draft pick in 2015 -- had Tommy John surgery in April. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

The speedy Mateo has split the 2017 season with Class A Advanced Tampa and Double-A Trenton, combining to bat .258/.318/.438 (102-for-395) with 65 runs, 25 doubles, 11 triples, eight homers, 37 RBIs and 39 stolen bases in 49 attempts in 99 games. He hit .300/.381/.525 (36-for-120) in 30 games after being promoted to Trenton on June 27. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

"To get a really good player, you're going to have to give up good players," Girardi said. "We gave up three really good prospects, but in return, we got a really good pitcher. And it's not just a rental. It's a pitcher that we'll have under control for 2 1/2 years." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

Cashman has been the Yankees' GM since 1998, and Billy Beane has been in charge of Oakland's baseball operations since 1997, making them two of the longest-tenured execs in the game. However, the Yanks and A's have made just four trades during their overlapping tenures, according to Baseball Reference, and the most recent one of consequence was 15 years ago. It was a three-team swap on July 5, 2002, in which the primary pieces were Jeff Weaver (sent from Detroit to New York), Ted Lilly (New York to Oakland) and Jeremy Bonderman (Oakland to Detroit). "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

The deal with the A's caps a busy month for Cashman's Yankees, who acquired right-handersTommy Kahnle and David Robertson, along with infielder Todd Frazier, from the White Sox on July 18 in exchange for outfielder Blake Rutherford, left-hander Ian Clarkin, outfielder Tito Polo, and right-hander Tyler Clippard. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

On Sunday, the Yankees acquired left-hander Jaime Garcia from the Twins for two Minor League pitchers. Earlier on Monday, the Yanks traded right-hander Yefry Ramirez to the Orioles in exchange for international signing bonus pool money, clearing space on their 40-man roster. "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/

"We've got some good pieces," Sabathia said. "You start adding pieces like [Gray] and Jaime Garcia and Fraz, who just came in and it feels like he's been here for 10 years. D-Rob coming back, Kahnle -- it's got a good mix going right now." "according to http://m.yankees.mlb.com/news/article/245551258/yankees-get-sonny-gray-in-trade-with-oakland/