Oakland Athletics Sonny Gray: Top 5 Pitcher in 2016
By Bill Pivetz
The Oakland Athletics have a few young starting pitchers in the rotation. They performed very well, but it wasn’t enough as the team finished last in the AL West. There is a sliver lining, though. The A’s have an American League Cy Young contender in Sonny Gray. With a career-year in 2015, I think 2016 will provide even more success for his fantasy owners.
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Gray made his first start on July 10, 2013. He went 5-3 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 12 games. His sophomore season was a great improvement, even if some of the ratio numbers rose. He won 14 games with a 3.08 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 33 starts. He struck out 183 batters as well. Things were only going to get better for 2015.
In two fewer starts, Sonny Gray won another 14 games with a 2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 169 strikeouts. He had three complete games, two of which were shutouts.
According to the ESPN Cy Young Predictor, Gray ranks seventh among the other contenders. He has some great competition, including two closers. I don’t think he’ll win, but the fact that he’s in the conversation is a good sign. He finished 12th among starting pitchers and 38th overall on the Player Rater.
Sonny Gray saw a drop in his K/9 and a rise in HR/9, but he did allow fewer walks, 2.55 BB/9. He also had a .216 opposing batting average and .255 BABIP. The O.co Coliseum is a pitcher-friendly park, so if Gray can keep the ball down, opposing averages will continue to be below .225.
Looking ahead to 2016, Sonny Gray is definitely a top-10 starting pitcher. I could have made that the headline, but that seems like a given. I could have done the same with top seven. I went with top five because I believe in the talent. The four pitchers I automatically rank ahead of Gray are Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke (depending on where he signs), Clayton Kershaw, and Dallas Keuchel. There are one or two other pitchers I could put ahead of him, but over a full-season, I’m going with Gray.
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Sonny Gray is just 26 years old, so the future is very bright. While he may not rack up the amount of wins (and you know my opinion on the wins category) or strikeouts other starting pitchers are getting, he does not give up runs and that is the most important thing. And, in a not-so-great AL West, Gray won’t be giving up a lot of runs next season.
Projections: 16-7, 2.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 189 strikeouts
Draft: Round 5