Gray Turns Red

It was no secret that Sonny Gray was on the trade block -- Yankees GM Brian Cashman has been amazingly candid throughout this off-season. And while he never blatantly said, "Gray isn't cut out to play in New York," that was the underlying message.

The key 2017 mid-season trade acquisition struggled at Yankee Stadium, with an ERA twice as high as in games pitched on the road. Fans lost their patience; the organization left him off last fall's post-season roster.

The Tennessee-born righthander isn't the first to fall into that category. For every David Cone, Keith Hernandez, Rusty Staub and Paul O'Neill that thrive after arriving mid-career in New York, there's a Kevin McReynolds and Ed Whitson.

Now Gray heads to Cincinnati, a smaller market with a different vibe and a much smaller local media presence. The Yankees, who'd already traded for James Paxton and re-signed J.A. Happ and C.C. Sabathia, have built the heart of their 2019 rotation. And, looking farther ahead, Cashman also obtains an extra pick (somewhere around 40th overall) from the Reds, and after a subsequent deal, outfield prospect Josh Stowers, Seattle's second round selection in 2018.
(My image is from the Yankees/Royals game last July 26th.)

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