We are still early in the MLB off-season and the rumors are already running wild.
CBS Sports’ Matt Snyder is reporting of how the Oakland A’s may be moving some pieces that include Sonny Gray, Stephen Vogt, and Sean Doolittle. However, you end up getting a different story from the A’s organization. According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, he is hearing that the A’s are not shopping any of these players. They are apparently only listening to offers. A’s officials are understanding of the fact that their team is unlikely to be a factor for the AL West in the 2017 season. By having this expectations, A’s officials are having an open-mind to trade proposals for their top players.
In my own opinion, I find that to be a foolish mindset. When the season does officially come to an end and your team is heading into the off-season, you should have high expectations. While it’s probably true that the A’s may not be a factor towards the AL West title, I feel it doesn’t hurt to make a push. While the off-season class is very weak, it is still early enough that the A’s could make some moves to make themselves a better team. Since the Houston Astros are still a young team, I would suspect the A’s would also go young to try and compete with the two Texas teams in the Rangers and the Astros.
Out of the three players mentioned, I see Sonny Gray being the toughest one to pinpoint to his future. He finished 3rd in the voting for the 2015 AL Cy Young, he is 27 years old and is he is hitting arbitration. Those three things will add to a nice rise in salary for Gray. If Sonny Gray leaves Oakland, I could see him possibly signing with the New York Mets. For starters, they need a 5th starter as they lost Colon to the Braves, there is the connection with Mets GM Sandy Alderson as he was the GM in Oakland right around when Gray came up to the majors, and he is still young enough that he could have a successful run.
It is still early in the MLB off-season and anything can happen.