The New York Yankees addressed their need at third base with the acquisition of Todd Frazier, but general manager Brian Cashman is still making a flurry of calls as the trade deadline nears.
The 27-time World Series champions don't have a true ace on the roster, and with CC Sabathia, Michael Pineda, and even Masahiro Tanaka likely to hit free agency this offseason, the Yanks are in need of starting pitching help for both the short and long-term.
Luckily for them, one pitcher who fits both of those needs is on the open market, and New York is reportedly in high pursuit of his services.
From Mark Feinsand of MLB.com:
Multiple sources indicated Tuesday that the Yankees were making progress toward a deal with Oakland, which could send not only [Sonny] Gray — who was slated to start for the A's on Tuesday in Toronto — but also first baseman Yonder Alonso to New York.
This potential deal accomplishes three things for the Bronx Bombers.
First, it solidifies the top of their rotation should they reach the postseason, with Gray (3.66 ERA entering tonight's start vs. Toronto) and Luis Severino (3.21 ERA) as a solid top two. Secondly, the move would give the Yankees a top-end starter who isn't eligible to hit free agency until after the 2019 season.
Lastly, the addition of Alonso would make their lineup even scarier than its current form. The 30-year old All-Star boasts an impressive .898 OPS as well as a career-high 21 homers, filling their hole at first base with some major pop.
Gray is a hot commodity around the league given his years of team control and his immense ability, so the Yankees will have to give up quite the haul to acquire his services. It should also be noted that Athletics Vice President of Baseball Operations Billy Beane and Cashman have rarely made deals together in the past.
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