Brewers in trade talks with Yankees regarding Sonny Gray

Milwaukee, W.I. ~ Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns has been interested in starting pitcher since the 2017 trade deadline, and he still might be trying to figure out a way to bring the right hander to Milwaukee this offseason.

MLB insider Jon Morosi says that the Brewers are  “prominent ” in trade discussions with the New York Yankees. Gray has been on the trade block all offseason, and it is almost certain that he will not be in Yankee pinstripes come Spring Training.

In 2017, the Brewers were seriously considering trading for Gray at the trade deadline when he was a member of the Oakland Athletics. However, Stearns was not willing to give up Lewis Brinson, and the Yankees snatched Gray. Unfortunately for New York, Gray’s tenure for the Yankees will be a short one, as he was never able to mesh with the organization.

Gray suffered through a down year last season, seeing his ERA rise from 3.42 as an Athletic to 4.51 with the Yanks. One of the reasons for a rising ERA was his inability to keep the ball in the stadium. While Gray did rise his strikeout rate last season, the switch to New York didn’t necessarily work out.

Added onto his poor performance on the mound, Gray became hated when he was caught laughing as Yankees fans booed him off the mound. Gray was moved to the bullpen and pitched much better there, but Yankees general manager basically announced that they would trade him, as he said it would “be best for everyone involved” to give Gray a fresh start.

One of the main reason’s the Brewers were linked to Gray in 2017 was because of his connections to then Milwaukee pitching coach Derek Johnson, who coached Gray at Vanderbilt. But this offseason, Johnson took the job in Cincinnati.

Gray’s estimated salary of $10 million is a number that the Brewers might not be able to afford, but it would be better than signing a free agent.

Whether or not the Brewers are even thinking about trading for Gray is a rumor, but he could be a fit in Milwaukee if the needs are there.

By Jacob Szczap