Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Sonny Gray, Paul Goldschmidt, and a Match Made in the Bronx



Late Monday evening I received a text on my phone from a person that I trust. This person was a friend of a friend that works within the Yankees organization that gives us a bone whenever he or she can. They told us about Johnny Damon coming to the Bronx in 2005 a few days before it happened, although I was not big on social media or blogging then, and they dropped other information to us including the New York Mets signing Curtis Granderson (we had the exact years and dollar amounts, Joel Sherman, so unblock me and give credit where credit is due) and others. Long story short, when this person talks… we listen. This person talked again this week and let us know that the Yankees are already actively talking to opposing GM’s about right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, and they state that Cashman has already had discussions regarding Gray with the Atlanta Braves, the Arizona Diamondbacks and other National League teams.

The source made it very clear that Cashman’s intention was to shop Gray to National League team’s first, which makes sense. Gray is a good pitcher, but he just can’t get out of his own head. Some people aren’t made for New York, and Gray seems to be one of them. Gray is going to figure this thing out if and when he is traded this offseason, and the Yankees would rather him figure it out with a team that would not see the Yankees all that often going forward.


So, with that said, let the speculation begin. What would the Yankees potentially get back from either of these teams, and ultimately what are their needs? It is hard to say, but we will pretend like the trade is imminent and keep the Yankees current needs in mind. This could obviously change the deeper into the winter and the hot stove season gets, but we will cross that bridge when we get there if this trade stuff goes that long. The Yankees don’t NEED another outfielder, and they don’t NEED a first baseman, and it is unlikely that they will trade Gray for the starting pitching help that they so desperately need, leaving just the bullpen and the farm system as potential areas to upgrade with the trade.

The Braves had pitching woes of their own here in 2018, so the only pieces of value that Atlanta will be able to offer the Yankees in return for Gray is a couple players out of their farm system. Pick the names, it doesn’t really matter at this point to be completely honest. Gray is a lost trade for Cashman and company and anything that he gets back will help lessen the hit. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, could think outside the box with a trade since their farm system is pretty barren right now. Arizona has already discussed the possibility of trading first baseman Paul Goldschmidt this winter, could this be the very early stages of a trade package between New York and Arizona?


Obviously, the Yankees would have to include a lot more than just Sonny Gray to pry away Goldschmidt from the Diamondbacks, but with Arizona presumably losing Patrick Corbin to free agency they may value Gray and his upside more than the Yankees, or most teams for that matter, do. The window for winning in Arizona is closing and Gray may give the team one more shot at going deep into the postseason with this current team. Who else would be in the package from the Yankees? Again, take your pick. Arizona’s farm system is barren, and I am sure they would merely take the best available prospects rather than a specific need, like a shortstop for example. If the Yankees don’t have enough or are unwilling to part with everything the Diamondbacks would ask for in a Goldschmidt trade, bring in a third team. The Yankees and Diamondbacks have done it before with the Tampa Bay Rays just last season, there is no reason they couldn’t do it again. Maybe even bring in the Braves, who knows? The specifics are left up to someone a lot smarter than me, but at least on paper this could potentially be the beginning of a match made in the Bronx.


The Yankees don’t NEED Goldschmidt, but damn it would be nice to have some stability at first base for once. Get Greedy, Get Goldy? It has a nice ring to it…

10 comments:

  1. You are looking to rename the blog The Goldy Pinstripes?... ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't know if Arizona can try and "go for it" by adding gray as a Patrick Corbin replacement and subtracting a great first baseman. Obviously there's a price for anything, and it's worth checking . Goldie is great! But If I were arizona, I'd go for it, and if the team takes a downturn, sell off Goldie at the deadline (which I'd go for also) and still get a great return

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Goldie brings some financial relief and prospects, both the team can turn around in another move. The Gray for Goldy swap wouldn't be the end of the line, hypothetically, for the D Backs offseason.

      Delete
  3. Question Daniel; Do we need Stars at every position...really?
    Stanton, Judge, Harper, Goldschmidt, Machado, Sanchez, six Stars of 8 players...Really?
    I understand we want to have the best team in Baseball but, I can't see the need for it nor Hal giving up all that cash!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He's not for adding Machado and harper ken!

      Delete
    2. I'd happily add both, or happily add neither. I have said all along that both are luxuries, but that I would take either. You don't create a blog called the Greedy Pinstripes and stay frugal and fiscally responsible for long.

      Delete
    3. I like being Greedy, but for the right people. I don't know much at all about Goldy, he may be just what we need at 1st.
      I am intrigued with having Andujar at 1st IF, we do get Machado but I still have faith in Bird.

      Delete
  4. Sorry, it is raining here so I can't work in the yard!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am all for anything to solve the RISP problem. I don't think the team needs an All-Star at every position, but let's manufacture some runs rather than just wait for the three-run bomb.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen to that!
      I keep saying that ,but many want the big HR. The Red Sox had much better balance on their team than we did...they won! Let's get back to the old way of winning, one or two big bats with all the rest as good hitters...300 AVG. per each would be nice.

      Delete

Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)