New York Yankees Sonny Gray
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Thirteen weeks later, the New York Yankees are finally making headway on trading starter Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds.

Allison Case

It looks as though the Cincinnati Reds are going to be getting a little Son-shine coming their way.

According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, the New York Yankees appear to be finalizing a deal that would send righty Sonny Gray to Cincinnati.

Of course, fans are now gun-shy when sharing reports of potential trades since the Manny Machado debacle of late 2018, but this one could be incredibly accurate, seeing as how Brian Cashman made it clear that Sonny Gray would likely be traded this offseason.

Various teams have been reported to be in the mix towards the end of 2018 but it seems the Yankees might have found a perfect trade partner with a good return for the oft-criticized Gray.

According to Heyman, the Yankees would be looking to bolster their farm system by adding prospect Shed Long and a draft pick. While another piece might be in play here, the speculation remains that Long and a draft pick would be definites.

As the tragic story goes, Gray arrived in the Bronx prior to the trade deadline in 2017 with the hopes of serving as a starter with control for the next two years. Unfortunately, it went downhill fast for the Nashville, TN native.

Gray struggled mightily as a member of the Yankees, going 15-16 and posting a 4.90 ERA in the 2018 season alone. Gray’s lackluster performance resulted in him being left off both the Wild Card and postseason roster.

On the Reds’ end, Shed Long is ranked currently by MLB Pipeline as the Reds’ No. 7 overall prospect. The Yankees would also snag a great draft pick and a second minor leaguer. Earlier reports indicated that catching prospect Tyler Stephenson was a potential target but the Reds are looking to keep him in their system for a while.

Sonny Gray’s days in the Bronx were already numbered but it seems like the deal is right around the corner. Wherever Sonny Gray ends up, may the skies be a little less Gray for him.


Allison is just a girl with an enormous passion for the game of baseball and the written word. Based in Upstate New York, her life-long relationship with the New York Yankees is something that she developed through close relationships with her mother and grandfather. An aspiring sports writer, she graduated with a journalism degree and is finding places to share her excitement about the sporting world and how it affects us all.