Yankees could still have Sonny Gray in pinstripes at Spring Training

Cashman said trade talks stopped after Sabathia's heart surgery

1/5/2019, 12:41 AM
New York Yankees starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, June 1, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) / AP
New York Yankees starting pitcher Sonny Gray delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, June 1, 2018, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) / AP

Yankees GM Brian Cashman declared back at the GM Meetings that he was working hard to ship beleaguered RHP Sonny Gray out of the Bronx via trade before Spring Training begins. 

Well, things might have changed on that front. 

Last month, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal broke the news that Yankees veteran LHP CC Sabathia needed a heart procedure known as an angioplasty to fix a blocked artery. The surgery went as expected, and Sabathia was said to be ready by the time Spring Training came around. 

But, after learning about Sabathia's surgery, Cashman has waited on dealing away Gray. During his conference call to announce the official signing of SS Troy Tulowitzki, Cashman said Gray could still be in pinstripes when the end of February comes around. 

"Our intention is to move Sonny Gray and relocate him, when we get the proper return in our estimation," Cashman told reporters. "It'll happen this winter, it'll happen in the spring or it'll happen sometime during the season."

The Yankees can resume their conversations with interested teams again likely when Sabathia sees positive results from his next follow-up with doctors. Cashman said earlier this offseason that at least 11 teams have called about Gray, with the Brewers and Reds showing more interest than others. 

Gray fell short of his expectations after being traded to New York in 2017. The righty lost his spot in the rotation in August, finishing the 2018 season with a 4.90 ERA and 1.496 WHIP in 130.1 innings.

As for Sabathia, he signed a one-year deal this offseason to finish his 19-year career with the Yankees. 


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