MLB trade review: Reds acquire Gray in 3 team deal

From NY Post

             The Cincinnati Reds have acquired RHP Sonny Gray and LHP Reiver Sanmartin from the New York Yankees in exchange for a competitive balance round A draft pick. The Reds also traded 2B Shed Long to the Seattle Mariners, who gave up OF Josh Stowers to the Yankees. Also, Gray has signed a three year extension with the Reds.

             For the Reds, they have acquired veteran pitchers Tanner Roark and Alex Wood, but haven\’t acquired a pitcher under contract for more than one year. Gray would have been a free agent after 2019, before signing an extension. They give up a pick after the first round and their seventh best prospect, which is quite a haul for a pitcher coming off a terrible year.

              Gray, 29, had a 4.90 ERA, a 4.17 FIP and 123 strikeouts in 130.1 innings for the Yankees in 2018. The best year of his career came in 2015 with the Oakland Atheltics, when he posted a 2.73 ERA, a 3.45 FIP and 169 strikeouts in 208 innings. In his career for the Yankees and A\’s, Gray has an ERA of 3.66, with a 3.74 FIP and 789 strikeouts in 900.2 innings.

              Sanmartin, 22, had a 2.81 ERA, with a 1.02 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in 67.1 innings for Low-A Staten Island, Single-A Charleston, High-A Tampa and AA Trenton.

              For the Yankees, they actually originally had Long, then flipped him to Seattle. The reasoning for that is since Long would take up a spot on the 40 man roster, they needed to open up a spot so they can sign reliever Adam Ottavino. But, they ended up downgrading prospects, getting Stowers, who is almost 22 and has barely played pro ball. Their main haul ended up being a draft pick.

              Stowers, 22, hit .260 with five home runs, 28 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 244 Plate Appearances for Low-A Everett in 2018, his first pro season.

              For the Mariners, they get a much better prospect who is already on their 40 man roster, and is just a year older than the one they give up. They had no business being in this trade, and ended up improving.

              Long, 23, had a .281 batting average, with 16 home runs, 50 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 439 Plate Appearances for High-A Daytona and AA Pensacola.