Simply because the Rays are reportedly listening to commerce affords on Blake Snell to see if somebody will bowl them over, the Reds are performing their very own due diligence and a minimum of listening to affords on right-hander Sonny Gray, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. It’s essential to notice that there’s no indication Cincinnati is actively procuring Grey. Nevertheless, Rosenthal provides that the Reds are searching for to pare again payroll in 2021, and it’s potential {that a} Grey commerce may fill different wants on the massive league roster whereas concurrently reducing total expenditures.
Grey, who simply turned 31 earlier this month, would instantly stand out as considered one of most coveted arms within the sport, though the worth to accumulate him would probably be reflective of that actuality. He’s thrived since being traded to Cincinnati, posting a 3.07 ERA and three.33 FIP with a 50.9 p.c grounder fee and averages of 10.8 strikeouts, 3.7 walks and 0.82 house runs per 9 innings pitched.
On high of that glorious efficiency, Grey is owed an eminently inexpensive $10M in every of the subsequent two seasons earlier than the Reds (or one other membership) make the choice on a $12M membership possibility for the 2023 marketing campaign. In a market that has remained robust for beginning pitchers, a minimum of early on, the attraction of Grey’s contract is all of the extra obvious. Already, we’ve seen Robbie Ray ($8M with the Blue Jays), Drew Smyly ($11M, Braves) and Charlie Morton ($15M, Braves) command sizable one-year pacts.
Any package deal for Grey would certainly should be targeted on MLB-ready expertise. The Reds solely simply emerged from a years-long rebuilding effort and aren’t trying to tear issues down by any account. That stated, even with Trevor Bauer coming off the books, payroll might be tight. The Reds are taking a look at wage hikes for first-time arbitration gamers like Luis Castillo, Jesse Winker, Tyler Mahle and Amir Garrett. Others due raises in arbitration embrace catcher Curt Casali, righty Michael Lorenzen and commerce deadline pickups Brian Goodwin and Archie Bradley.
The Reds additionally have already got $101.375M assured to Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, Eugenio Suarez, Wade Miley, Raisel Iglesias, Tucker Barnhart and Grey. The projected salaries of their arbitration class may push that sum north by one other $24M or so, relying on non-tenders, they usually’ll must spherical out the roster with pre-arbitration gamers.
All in all, the Reds are probably taking a look at a payroll north of $130M for the second straight season. Contemplating final 12 months’s roughly $134M Opening Day payroll (previous to prorated salaries) was already a franchise file, it’s not a shock that possession is searching for methods to scale back spending with out utterly punting on competing in what must be a relatively wide-open, four-team division race.
Remaining aggressive can be the tough half. Castillo provides the Reds a reputable top-of-the-rotation presence even with out Grey or Bauer current, and Miley has lengthy been a sturdy supply of innings. Lorenzen hopes to move into next year’s rotation, and Mahle had a strong 2020 exhibiting. Nonetheless, it’d be a precipitous drop to go from a playoff rotation of Bauer, Grey and Castillo to a high three of Castillo, Miley and Mahle. The Reds may all the time add rotation assist both as a part of the return package deal for Grey or through the free-agent market, however arms of his caliber aren’t going to be obtainable at a $10M annual fee.
As for Grey’s potential market, he’d draw widespread curiosity, and historical past can present a information for a couple of potential matches. The Padres, Brewers and Twins have been linked to Grey when the Yankees made it clear they have been procuring him after the 2018 season — a lot totally different circumstances than at current. The Rangers have been reported to have curiosity as nicely, though they’re unlikely to be within the combine now that they’re specializing in a youth motion.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi, in the meantime, was a member of the Athletics entrance workplace when Grey was drafted 18th total and developed there, and we all know San Francisco is searching for rotation assist. The Blue Jays have additionally been within the hunt for rotation assist and aren’t going through the kind of payroll constraints felt by lots of their rivals. The Angels appear to be perennially trying to find beginning pitching upgrades. Others would undoubtedly enter the fray.
It bears repeating that this seems to be a far totally different situation than when Yankees normal supervisor Brian Cashman stated in 2018 that he was “open-minded to relocation” for Grey and conceded it was “most likely finest [for Gray] to attempt someplace else.” Grey’s inventory has skyrocketed since that point, and with out some mixture of MLB-ready younger expertise (ideally at shortstop and within the rotation), it’s laborious to think about a commerce really coming collectively. Even then, this is able to be a tough commerce to make for a Reds staff intent on contending, however different golf equipment might be motivated to attempt to make them contemplate the likelihood.
