In the overnight hours, the heat of baseball rumor activity centered around Oakland A’s righty Sonny Gray, and the increasing likelihood that he would not only be traded, but that he was going to be scratched from his start today in anticipation of a trade.
Specifically, rumors popped up that it was going to be a deal with the New York Yankees.
Joel Sherman writes that the Yankees are seen as the favorites for Gray, but in order to give themselves a little comfort in holding the line on the A’s demands, they’re going to try to trade for Jaime Garcia first. To that end, it looks like Garcia to the Yankees is going to happen (UPDATE: It is.):
The Minnesota Twins are deep into discussions on a deal to send SP Jaime Garcia to the New York Yankees, sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 30, 2017
Source: #Twins have discussed Zack Littell in Jaime Garcia talks. Littell is the #Yankees No. 22 prospect, scratched from Sat. start. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2017
Garcia was, of course, only just traded to the Twins by the Braves, but then the Twins almost immediately lost four in a row, fell under .500, and quickly changed course.
If Garcia to the Yankees happens this morning, then all eyes will be on the Yankees and Gray, who will not make his originally scheduled start today. The A’s will reportedly walk away from talks if their demands aren’t met, but most expect that Gray’s value is too high right now – and his future too uncertain – for the A’s to fail to make a trade by the deadline.
Sherman describes the Yankees as favorites for Gray, but lists the Astros, Braves, Brewers, Dodgers, and “perhaps” the Cubs as the other serious suitors. Ken Rosenthal says the Cubs do want Gray, but have trouble lining up on a trade without Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease in the system anymore. Instead, like Sherman, he sees the Yankees as the most logical and likely trade partner.
Of course, if the A’s really do feel like they have to make a trade, but need to threaten to walk away, maybe they wind up having to take an offer from another team that is lurking in the background, hoping the price drops.
Stay tuned.