USA TODAY International Edition
With deadline nearing, let’s make some deals
A’s pitcher Gray atop list of players likely to be traded
The Cleveland Indians witnessed it firsthand over the weekend, and they would love to stuff him in their overhead compartment Wednesday when they fly home from the Bay Area after a week- long stay.
The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers can line up their playoff rotations now, but without him, their World Series droughts might continue.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who got a gut punch when the Chicago Cubs spent their All- Star break landing Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox, have a chance to deliver their own right cross.
The name is Sonny Gray, property of the Oakland Athletics and a pitcher looming as the biggest difference- maker at this year’s Major League Baseball non- waiver trade deadline.
A year ago, the Cubs and Indians made big moves by acquiring relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, respectively, and riding them right through Game 7 of the World Series. Gray could be that man this year.
Teams are ignoring Gray’s injury history, 10- 15 record and 4.86 ERA over the last 11⁄2 years and focusing on what he’s doing lately, yielding a 1.33 ERA over his last four starts. When you can throw a 94- mph fastball, 90- mph slider and are under club control through the 2019 season, you tend to get a lot of attention.
It’s no wonder A’s President Billy Beane and general manager David Frost are being besieged with calls from contending clubs.
We don’t know where Gray and other impact players are headed just yet by the July 31 deadline. And with all but the White Sox plausibly close to an AL wild- card slot and three divisions up for grabs, the next two weeks will be fluid.
With that in mind, based on an informal survey of MLB executives and personnel by USA TODAY Sports, here are a few potential deals we might see before August. SONNY GRAY The Brewers might be the team most aggressively pursuing Gray, who pitched three years for Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson at Vanderbilt. The Brewers, whose rebuild has been accelerated by their first- place status in the NL Central, not only have the prospects but also a fiery owner wanting to land him.
“There’s an old saying, ‘ Be careful what you wish for because you may get it,’ ” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told reporters Sunday. “If you love your prospects too much, maybe that’s an issue, also. We have to make the right move, either way.”
The Brewers still must exercise caution, not thwarting rebuilding efforts because of their 41⁄ 2- game lead over the Cubs. If they didn’t think the cost of Quintana was worth surrendering their elite prospects, would they give up three of their top 20 such as Brett Phillips, Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes for Gray?
The Astros ( 62- 30) might be the team that most needs Gray. Sure, they’ll cruise to the American League West title with or without him, but with the way the Astros have dominated this year, anything short of a World Series berth will be a disappointment.
Prediction: Gray goes to the Astros for starting pitcher Joe Musgrove, prized pitching prospect Forrest Whitley and outfield prospect Teoscar Hernandez. TODD FRAZIER It’s no secret that the Boston Red Sox committed a huge blunder by trading third baseman Travis Shaw to the Brewers last offseason and even a bigger one when they shelled out $ 95 million to Pablo Sandoval less than three years ago, only to designate him for assignment last week. It wound up costing them $ 6.8 million for every home run and $ 1.6 million for every RBI.
They’re now going with a third- base platoon of Brock Holt and Deven Marrero while waiting for elite third- base prospect Rafael Devers to arrive.
They are trying to decide between the White Sox’s Todd Frazier, who’ll be a free agent after the season, and the Miami Marlins’ Martin Prado, who is still owed $ 28.5M after this year.
Prediction: The Red Sox would love to acquire Frazier and closer David Robertson to be Craig Kimbrel’s setup man, but instead they’ll take Frazier and reliever Tommy Kahnle, surrendering No. 2 prospect Jason Groome and No. 9 prospect Michael Chavis. TIGERS: J. D. MARTINEZ, WILSON ON MOVE The trade blueprint teams had all along was to pick off all of the Kansas City Royals’ potential free agents. The Royals went 7- 16 in April, scoring 63 runs, their fewest in a calendar month since April 1992.
Then the Royals started winning and have climbed so far out of their hole they have engaged in the bidding for Gray. They’re not expected to make a major move, but they’ve thwarted a whole lot of plans by hanging on to their players, making one last run.
The Tigers have begun winning since the All- Star break, but it’s too late. Club officials say they plan to move left- handed reliever Justin Wilson, outfielder J. D. Martinez and catcher Alex Avila. Wilson is drawing the most interest, with about 12 teams bidding for him, led by the Astros and Dodgers.
Prediction: The Astros acquire Wilson, who’s under control through 2018, for outfield prospect Derek Fisher. The Arizona Diamondbacks, who have dropped 11 of their last 14 games, grab Martinez, giving up outfield prospect Socrates Brito and pitching prospect Curtis Taylor.