Houston Astros Trade Talk: Let’s make a run for Sonny Gray

As we’re on final approach for the MLB Trade Deadline in a few weeks, the Houston Astros need to target one of the more promising arms in this league.

Yes, I understand that the Houston Astros continue to have a 15.5 game lead in the AL West over their nearest competitor, the Los Angeles Angels.  But this team still needs a starting arm to get embossed into our system before the playoffs get going this fall. I think that not only making a move for a starting arm is paramount but it will be imminent.

As you know, the trade deadline is Monday, July 31 by 3 p.m. CDT and there’s no doubt that the Houston Astros will have a deal done by then.  In just about every facet of this team’s lineup, we’re deep but it has become extremely evident that we need additional depth on the starting pitching side.

Who do the Astros need to target profusely?  Definitely the Oakland A’s young arm in Sonny Gray.  You just have to think that if Gray we’re playing for a team with a ton of media presence, his popularity would be off the charts.  But he pitches for the A’s, sometimes a begotten team on the other side of the Bay Area.  The A’s have, more or less, been the bastard stepchild of major league baseball in San Fran, where the Giants are look upon as the gold standard.

I continue to be extremely impressed of some of the productive teams the A’s have put together over the years with Billy Beane‘s “Moneyball” method; and although the team is struggling mightily this year, they have some mighty talent that’s just waiting to be plucked away.  It’s clear that they’re rebuilding again and the team is likely to be sellers at the trade deadline.

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So why not Gray?  Yes, I know he has had his woes throughout the season but his last two starts have been solid.  Over his last two starts, he’s struck out nine, allowed five hits, three earned runs, and one homer.  This is a far cry from the numbers he was putting up earlier in the season.  His ERA is down to 4.00 from 6.00 at the start of season and his WHIP remains steady at 1.21.  That’s where he has been throughout.  There are many questions about his health as he did start the season on the DL with a strained lat.  Since then, he’s been trying to recover from the time off and we’re seeing the upward trend in his production.

His contract is still franchise-friendly with him making $3.6 million this season and he’ll have two more years of arbitration/team control before becoming a free agent in 2020 at age 30.  But let’s hope by then that he will have helped us to a World Series crown by then.

Gray isn’t even in his 30s yet so the pragmatic approach for any team wanting to take a flyer on him is that he can continue to produce at his age.  As with any trade, there’s certainly an accentuated amount of risk but the needs and the choice is clear, he’d be a nice fit in our starting rotation and will be the guy to put us over the top to get to the World Series.  Now I may be getting ahead of myself here but Gray has some great stuff when he’s on.  His mid-90s fastball is what got him to show and it’s going to be his low-80s curveball that’s going to get him accolades by being a part of the Astros, striking out his batters left and right.

So who should the Astros package up for him?  Our farm is one of the most complete and talented in all of pro baseball and they’ll be some nice bargaining chips to get this deal done.  I’d package Teoscar Hernandez and Franklin Perez for Gray and also sweeten the deal with either Tony Kemp or Colin Moran if the situation warrants.  That should be enough for a guy that’s proven he doesn’t falter in front of the big lights, when he’s at the top of his game.

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I’m positive the Astros have been talking to the A’s about Gray but I think they’re just biding the time to see if their price goes down for him.  I’m sure what the A’s are asking for could be even greater than my proposal.  Any way, let’s get this deal done.

Gray, 27, is holding down a 4-4 record with a 4.00 ERA, 74 strikeouts, a terrific 3.59 FIP, 8.5 K/9, and a solid 1.21 WHIP through 78.2 innings pitched in 13 starts this season.

Go Astros.