MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades A’s should make

OAKLAND, AZ - JUNE 04: Yonder Alonso #17 of the Oakland Athletics hits a single against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning of the MLB game at Oakland Coliseum on June 4, 2017 in Oakland, California. The Nationals defeated the Athletics 11-10. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

1. Trade Sonny Gray to the highest bidder

It’s not a question of if Sonny Gray will be traded, but when. The Oakland Athletics signaled they are open for business by trading relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to the Nationals over the weekend, and the club is reportedly actively shopping Yonder Alonso and others. The biggest name on the roster, Sonny Gray, is also expected to receive the most interest.

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Brewers have been actively pursuing Gray harder than other major league clubs. The Cubs have been linked to Gray in recent weeks, even after trading for Jose Quintana, and the Astros – who missed out on Quintana after months of rumor and speculation connecting the parties – need starting pitching help as well. There’s even chatter about a team like the Braves, out of contention but active in trade talks, could make a move for the Vanderbilt product.

For his part, Gray has bounced back admirably from a poor, injury-riddled 2016 season in which he posted a 5.69 ERA and 4.67 FIP across 22 starts. An All-Star in 2015, when he finished as the second runner-up in the AL Cy Young race, Gray is 5-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 14 starts this season. He began the year on the disabled list, but has been dependable enough to log 84.2 innings since, often pitching into the seventh inning and passing 100 pitches.

Next: MLB Trade Deadline: 30 players likely to move

Gray is also trending up. In four starts since June 25, the 27-year-old is 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA with 21 strikeouts and five walks in 27 innings. Opponents have hit just .122/.168/.244 during that stretch.

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