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MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for Sonny Gray

By Joshua Sadlock

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 10: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during the first inning of game one of a double header against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 10, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 10: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during the first inning of game one of a double header against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 10, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the top of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 30, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the top of the first inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 30, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

4. Houston Astros

The Astros appear to be fairly safe bet to get involved in the starting pitcher trade market as the deadline approaches. They will be engaged in talks around all three of the available aces — Gray, Jose Quintana, and Gerrit Cole. Which pitcher lands in Houston could be determined by the asking price.

Of the three premier pitchers who figure to be available on the market, Gray has the most upside, but also high volatility. Cole has good upside remaining, but concerns about his durability linger. Quintana has likely tapped out his potential, but should be stable. It will all depend on what the Astros are looking for in a starter and what they are willing to pay.

Gray is a great fit for the Houston clubhouse, but the Astros will have to do their homework and make sure his arsenal profiles well in Minute Maid Park. The 27-year-old right-hander is not wildly prone to the longball and should hold up well against the quirky dimensions of Houston’s stadium.

Gray has benefited from make his home starts in Oakland, but has actually produced better numbers on the road for his career. In seven starts in Texas, Gray has a 1.64 ERA, and in Seattle a 1.07 ERA. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s a 1.41 ERA for Gray in 12 career starts and over 80 innings in the home parks of the Astros two biggest divisional rivals.

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