With last night's sandwich pick, the Sonny Gray legacy trade is complete

Last night, with the 38th pick in the national meat review, the Death Star selected a 6'0" college LHP named TJ Sikkema - a 20-year-old junior from the University of Missouri. He led the SEC in ERA. Assuming he signs quickly - (he'd be nuts to return senior year, losing all bargaining clout next June) - he'll probably start this month at Staten Island. If, say, everything goes perfectly, he's three years away from the Bronx. 

So closes the book on Sonny Gray. For now, anyway.

Actually, it will take years to assess the Gray Legacy, but we now have a crude snapshot. Gray, of course, was the latest of the Holy Grail power arms that Brian "Cooperstown" Cashman has pursued throughout his GM career. For decades, Cash has regularly traded prospects for looming "aces," who soon need elbow surgery or a good shrink. It began around the time of Jeff Weaver, circled twice into the shade of Javier Vazquez, included Pine Tar Pineda and - aw, jeez - don't get me started.

Too late. He fucking traded Mike Lowell for four arms, Gary Sheffield for three. He gave up a circus for Kevin Brown. He signed an ancient Randy Johnson, a zombified Roger Clemens, the Kei Igawa, the Carl Pavano - I told you, don't get me started! - while Boston snagged Josh Becket and Chris Sale. 

And let's face it: Cooperstown will soon cut another deal. By Aug. 1, he'll trade a promising SS-3B, a solid-hitting but clownish defensive OF, and a top young pitcher for the latest veteran pitcher, who might quickly turn into a pumpkin. 

But... enough! let's get to Sonny Gray, now of Cincinnati. 

He's currently 2-5 with a respectable ERA of 3.54 (over 61 innings.) That would be third best on the Yankee staff, ahead of the dangerously slumping Domingo German, the farewell touring CC Sabathia, and the disappointing JA Happ. Of course, there's no guarantee that those numbers would exist in NYC. For reasons stemming from scouts or numbers wonks, Cashman had completely given up on Sonny. If he were never wrong, we wouldn't worry. Trouble is - well, there's AJ Burnett, Ian Kennedy, Mark Melancon, Tyler Clippard, Ivan Nova - ahh, don't get me started! Sometimes, we keep the bums, trade the plums. 

So... Sonny Gray? 

To get him, we sent to Oakland three of our then-top 10 prospects.

1. Former first-round pick James Kaprellian, who has now missed two years with arm troubles. He's working his way back at high Single A, having thrown 2 games.

2. Jorge Mateo, the Yankee 2018 spring training "It Girl." After bumbling around, he may be exploding in the Pacific Coast League. He is hitting .335 (10th in the league) with 8 HRs and playing SS. He has 13 stolen bases. He's 23.

3. The tough-luck OF Dustin Fowler, whose wrecked knee two years ago, from a metal protrusion in Chicago, brought tears to Joe Girardi on the field. Fowler has twice failed MLB shots. He's hitting .273 with 7 HRs in the PCL. He's 24. 

For now, no Drabek, no Buhner, no Scott McGregor... but if any of them becomes a star, the Sonny trade will start to pinch. 

Now, to get rid of Sonny last winter, this is what we did... and what we obtained:

We traded him to Cincy along with 23-year old RHP Reiver Sanmartin, who is currently at the Reds' High Single A team (2-3, 3.74). I have no sense of Sanmartin, other than the Yankees were touting their great depth of young power arms, and he was said to be expendable.  

We received a spark-plug 2B named Shed Long, 23, who supposedly can hit. But not for us. We quickly spun Shed off to Seattle, where he is now getting his chance in the majors. Over 12 games (not even 50 ABs), he's hitting .211. We traded Long for Josh Stowers, a 22-year-old CF and former 2nd round pick with Seattle. Stowers is now at Charleston, low Single A, and hitting .273 with 5 HRs. Supposedly, the Yankees targeted him in trade talks, (though, frankly, they always say such things.) 

And now we have Sikkema, last night's sandwich pick. It will be interesting to see how they all unfold. Basically, the Yankees gave up Kaprelian, Mateo, Fowler and Sanmartin for Stowers and Sikkema. Then there is Sonny, who the last place Reds might trade to a contender, maybe even one we would face in the postseason? This is why baseball drives us nuts. Who knows?