Following a difficult tenure in the Bronx, the New York Yankees traded pitcher Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds in a three team deal with the Seattle Mariners. Gray also signed a three year contract extension with the Reds with a team option for 2023.
After spending the first four and a half seasons of his MLB career with the Oakland A's which included a third place finish in AL Cy Young voting in 2015, Gray was dealt to the Yankees during the trade deadline in 2017. In 41 appearances (including 34 starts) went 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA, more than a run higher during his tenure in Oakland. While other pitchers have done worse, the Yankee fan base delighted in tormenting Gray. It was best for Gray to go elsewhere.
It might very well be that Cincinnati could be the perfect landing spot. Reds fans have much to look forward with the offseason acquisitions of ex-Dodgers Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. Gray, 29, also joins a rotation that now includes ex-Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood and former Nats starter Tanner Roark. Gray will not have the pressure of being looked upon as the staff ace, but rather as part of a triumvirate of quality starting pitchers. The fact that the Reds have signed Gray to a contract extension is a vote of confidence that he will be in their future plans for several years to come.
The Los Angeles Angels have a new closer in Cody Allen who signed a one year, $8.5 million deal. The 30-year old right-hander had spent his entire professional career in the Cleveland Indians' organization where he was the club's all-time saves leader with 149. However, Allen had a career worst 4.70 ERA in 2018 and would lose his job to Brad Hand shortly after his arrival from the San Diego Padres. The Angels have been very busy improving their pitching having added the likes of Matt Harvey and Trevor Cahill to their starting rotation. Adding Allen as their closer could put the Angels back in the mix in the AL West.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have infield versatility with the addition of former New York Met Wilmer Flores. The 27-year old native of Venezuela signed a one year deal with the D'Backs worth $4.25 million with a club option for 2020. Flores became a fan favorite at Citi Field after wiping tears away upon learning he had been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Carlos Gomez at the trade deadline in July 2015. Only the trade didn't happen and Flores ended up being an integral part of the Mets first NL championship in 15 years. Flores originally signed with the Mets as a teenager in 2007 and made the big league roster in 2013. In six seasons with the Mets, Flores has hit. 262 with 68 HR and 253 RBI.
While I think Flores will fit in nicely with Torey Lovullo's squad in Phoenix, I have a feeling he will be back in a Mets uniform before he calls it a career.
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