Saturday, January 19, 2019

What should the Yankees want for Sonny Gray?

It may be the longest winter trade in history. For nearly three months now, the Yankees have been slow-cooking a deal for Sonny Gray. You've heard of "players to be named later." This will involve players to be named sometime this century. Gray is being water-tortured for his crimes against the Yankees. He's been linked to 1) Oakland, 2) Cincinnati, 3) Milwaukee, 4) San Diego, 5) Minnesota and/or 6) Seattle. Everybody wants him, except the Yankees.

And why not? We can all read the handwriting on the wall (or is it steel slats?) Once freed from Gotham's hateful, Gammonitic vortex, Gray should thrive. A lot of bums do. Remember AJ Burnett? Ian Kennedy? The Bronze Titan, Jose Contreras? (The best thing about Phil Hughes: He didn't soar in Minnesota.) Sonny's place on our roster will be taken by James Paxton, for whom the Death Star is whipping up expectations. (As it did last year with Sonny.) If Pax turns into The Son of Sonny, the 2019 Yankees will field the same team that finished 8 games behind Boston. Good luck with that!

Lately, the Gray rumor mill has heated up again. A deal looks imminent, maybe before DJ LeMahieu is added to the roster next week. The latest blather involves the Reds, who could send us a young catcher, a young 2B, a sandwich round draft pick, or some variation of the three. (I'd favor a catcher, because Kyle Higashioka doesn't hit, and I'm tired of having to spell his name. Also, we don't need a 2B and Yankee draft picks are a sore spot; we'll simply pick another pitcher on his way to Dr. Tommy John.) 

Today, the Reds no-name generating buzz is Tyler Stephenson, a 22-year-old catcher, a former first-round pick, ranked Cincy's sixth top prospect. Trouble is, he bats RH and played last year in Single A, (where he hit .256). He's two years away, and the Yankees have a pig's roast of catchers down in the dirt leagues. 

Also, let's remember the Iron Rule of Cashman: 

He never - ever - does what the rumors say. 

I think it's a point of pride with him. It's also a brilliant survival strategy. He whispers up a low bar of rumors, which then makes the trade look good. My prediction, (Suzyn:) He'll gin up a three-way - Cash loves threesomes - so dizzying that nobody can rule a winner. Anything can happen: He could add Greg Bird or one of the Scranton Holy Trinity: Chance Adams, Domingo German and Luis Cessa. 

Here's what I see the Yankees needing.

1. A young, MLB-ready catcher, preferably who bats LH. This gives us a potential platoon with Austin Romine, if Gary Sanchez turns into a full Matt Nokes.

2. A professional first-baseman, who hits LH and fields well. A great glove could save our 2019 infield. Luke Voit has the hands of a linebacker. 

3. Young arms, of which no team has too many. You know... Pitching, pitching, pitching...

So, maybe it will happen tomorrow. Frankly, I don't care. For me, Sonny can wait another month, if necessary. Excruciating torment? So be it. That's how I felt watching him. 

14 comments:

13bit said...

Keep Sonny. Have him start on Opening Day. Let him deal straight to Ice Cream Sandwich.

Let's start the season off right.

Anonymous said...

HAHA...13 BIT...

THAT WOULD BE LIKE THAT SEINFELD EPISODE, THE ONE WHERE GEORGE DOES EVERYTHING OPPOSITE, AND IT REAPS AMAZING SUCCESS...

MAYBE WE SHOULD TRY THAT...

TheWinWarblist said...

Fuckfuckfuckfuck.

Anonymous said...

What should the Yankees want for Sonny Gray?

What anyone should want for anyone else. A long happy, healthy, and productive life filled with love, inner peace, and a connection with the oneness of the universe.

Oh, you meant in a trade...

What you mentioned pretty much covers it. Of those I would pick the catcher. Because 1B guys and pitchers are easier to acquire and his being two years away doesn't bother me because it will take at least that for the Yankees to give up on Sanchez.

Speaking of Catchers it would be nice if the Yankees did a deal with Padres and got back that catcher that they stole from them in the Rule 5 Draft (by keeping him on the bench for the year.) I don't remember his name.

Ultimately, I'm thinking that they will get a decent/good return here because the Yankees gave up three (apparently flawed - but not known at the time) prospects and it seems that by virtue of pitching really well outside of YS Sonny, didn't harm his reputation TOO much.

When they first got him I thought he was going to be their ace. Hopefully there is a GM out there who is just as stupid.

Doug K.




HoraceClarke66 said...

But what about Shed Long, the other guy in the Reds system the Yanks supposedly want? HE is listed as a catcher AND a second baseman.

Yes, he's a floor wax AND a dessert topping!

My reaction is...meh.

Fun as it would be to have a player named "Shed"—his whole first name is "Shedric"—the guy has already put in 6 full professional seasons—and reached Double-A.

Stephenson, who is 22, has put in 4 full professional seasons, and reached Single-A.

Yeah, yeah, I know, Long is the Reds' 7th highest prospect and Stephenson is supposedly the 10th highest ranked catching prospect in all the MLB kingdom.

But we have all had a firsthand tutorial, these past few seasons, on just how much that means. The trouble with guys this age at the levels they're at is that you can't be sure how much of their success—which is pretty limited—is due to the fact that they are now always playing against younger, less experienced players.

Sure, maybe Shed and Ty are just late bloomers. But there is nothing here to be excited about.

Coops would be better off finding a buyer who would just load him up with draft picks.

Or, take my idea and only pitch Sonny on the road...

Anonymous said...


Hoss,

I've always liked your "Pitch Sonny on the road" idea. I think the problem with him, fairly or not - because this comes from beat writers - is that he comes off as a dick. According to Bill Madden in today's Daily News Sonny was the other ringleader in the stiffing of clubhouse personnel. In other words, Sonny don't share.

Is this true? I don't know. Makes for a good pun though.

Bottom line is that most minor league player bust by definition. There are only 25 slots on the roster and you're doing well if 10 came from your system. You rolls the dice and you takes your chances.

Doug K.

TheWinWarblist said...

The problem with Sunny is that he is not a good major league pitcher.

Anonymous said...

Granted Shed is a cool nickname but who names a kid Shedrick in the first place? Isn't that more of a last name like Tom House or Billy Sixroomsriverview?

Does he have a brother Hutwick? Candlewick? Weird.

What's his middle name?

Doug K.

Der Kaiser said...

Shedric is a fantastic ballplayer name. Since the Yankees are just going to screw up the offseason anyway and fail embarrassingly at the end of the season, let's shift the goal - build the team instead around a fun gimmick and stock the roster with a bunch of Shedrics, Asdrubals, Jabaris, and Yangervii!

Alphonso said...

Why would anyone give up anything of value for Sonny Gray?

It makes no sense.

If a trade is consummated, remember what I said.

HoraceClarke66 said...

Doug K., if we get Shedrick all we'll need Meshick and Abednego.

Get it? As in "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego"? From the fiery furnace, in the Bible?

C'mon, people! I know you're out there—I can hear you breathing!

Uh, boy.

Anyway, think of the tabloid headlines:
"Nice Wood, Shed!"
"Shed-ding His Pinstripes"
"Shed Long Ball!"

Well, you get the picture...

Anonymous said...

I like all these and Kaisers suggestion as well.

The Bible? I thought they were from a Danny Kaye movie. Or was it Der Binger?

I hope he comes here and he plays so well that he makes it onto the Yankee Mount Rushmore. Mo, Larry (Berra) and Shed.

Doug K.

Anonymous said...

ALPHONSO IS RIGHT.

WE WILL GET 2 NOTHING BURGERS FOR SONNY.

REMEMBER WHAT WE GAVE UP FOR HIM.

HOLD ON TO YOUR CROTCH, BECAUSE THIS ONE COULD BE A BALL-CRUSHER.

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