Yankees trade rumors: Sonny Gray deal getting close

The Yankees appear to be front runners in the Sonny Gray sweepstakes. They are reportedly close to landing the A’s starter.

Despite already trading for a starting pitcher early Sunday morning, the New York Yankees appear to be interested in landing Sonny Gray. Trading for Jaime Garcia adds depth to the rotation but isn’t the big fish on the trade market that Gray is. The A’s have already scratch Gray from his upcoming start as the team prepares for a trade. The Yankees appear to have the upper hand in the sweepstakes as a trade may be inevitable at this point.

Buster Olney of ESPN has reported that he predicts a deal will get done.

The Yankees, who hold a half-game lead over the Red Sox in the AL East appear to be in win now mode. New York did make a major trade earlier acquiring Todd Frazier, Tommy Kahnle, and David Robertson from the White Sox to make their presence known around the league. New York has a big hole in the rotation following Michael Pineda undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Sonny Gray is one of the biggest names available on the trade market. Yu Darvish is the only big name starter that is available. Oakland seems to like a number of Yankee farm hands including Jorge Mateo, Clint Frazier, and Gleyber Torres. The A’s will likely try to land one of the big names in the Yankees system as part of a trade package.

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Up to this point, it appears that the Brewers, Dodgers, and Cubs are the only other teams making a push for Gray. The Cubs frankly don’t have the prospects to compete with the Yankees in a trade. LA and Milwaukee may not be willing to trade some of the elite young talents in their systems.