MLB trade rumors: Sonny Gray drawing interest?

With the Oakland Athletics going nowhere this season, will general manager Billy Beane be willing to trade starting pitcher Sonny Gray before the deadline?

With the 2017 MLB trade deadline coming at the end of the month, we can expect a few blockbuster trades before the non-waiver deadline on Tuesday, July 31. One player that will be garnering great interest on the trade market is Oakland Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray.

Gray has been with Oakland his entire MLB career after being drafted out of Vanderbilt in the 2011 MLB Draft. He is a former All-Star for the A’s and would make any rotation he joins instantly better. Oakland is not having a great year, as one of the worst teams in the American League. Will A’s general manager Billy Beane part ways with his frontline starting pitcher?

According to Peter Gammons, “As of [Monday] morning the only calls Billy Beane has had on Sonny Gray were ‘keep me in mind’ requests, none recent.”

Given that Gray has pitched well in his last two starts for the A’s, it may only be a matter of time before Beane sells high on Gray before the deadline. While no definitive team has jumped atop the leaderboard of the Gray sweepstakes, the Houston Astros could inquire about Gray before July 31.

Houston has the best record in the American League, but will need to appropriately replace starter David Paulino in the rotation. Paulino was recently suspended for testing positive for PEDs. He will be out 80 games for the Astros and probably won’t return to the club this season.

Next: 50 Best Teams Never To Win The World Series

While Houston has two outstanding starters in Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers, you can never have enough top-end starting pitching. Gray would make a great No. 2 or No. 3 starter for the Astros on their quest for the pennant and the Commissioners’ Trophy. Will the Astros have the right package to entice Beane to pull the trigger on a deal with Houston for Gray?