The New York Yankees plan to be buyers as they try to strengthen their lineup before the playoffs, and they want to upgrade their starting pitching.
They had been targeting Jose Quintana before the Chicago Cubs traded for him, but with him now off the market, New York is looking at other options. New York has shown interest in Justin Verlander, but according to Thomas Lott of the Sporting News, Sonny Gray of the Oakland A's is their top target.
The trade deadline is a little more than two weeks away and the Yankees are likely to be active in it. They have already made a minor trade for a first baseman as they moved Tyler Webb earlier this week for minor league first baseman Garrett Cooper, but the big move has yet to come.
Could that big move be for the Athletics' Sonny Gray?
It's possible, and the Yankees are certainly interested, but they are hesitant to move their top prospects to get him. Guys like Clint Frazier, Gleyber Torres and maybe even a Justus Sheffield may be untouchable, but to get Gray it's likely going to take at least one of them to get Oakland's ace who tossed six innings of one run ball Friday night.
However, New York's reluctance to part with those top prospects is what is holding up a possible deal, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports.
yanks are one of many to check in on sonny gray. (but yanks are reluctant to trade biggest prospects)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 14, 2017
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team plans to be "careful buyers" at the deadline because of their desire to keep those top prospects.
Gray, who has two more years of arbitration before becoming an unrestricted free agent following the 2019 season, is 5-4 with a 3.72 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 14 starts this season.
Follow our New York Yankees team page for all the latest Yankees rumors or download the Chat Sports App!
Back to the New York Yankees Newsfeed