Seattle Mariners Trade Rumors: Sonny Gray Is Available To Improve Starting Rotation.
Seattle Mariners trade rumors are expected to pick up soon, with possibilities ranging from nabbing Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray to general manager Jerry Dipoto starting to deal away key pieces of the roster. The team suffered what Nelson Cruz called an “embarrassing” loss to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday (May 27), getting shutout by a rookie pitcher who was sent back to Triple-A after blanking the Mariners. Brian Johnson had a career day for the Red Sox, but his demotion proves that even the team doesn’t trust his performance.
Twenty-seven. That’s the number of pitchers that the Seattle Mariners have used in the 2017 MLB season. The team has only played 50 games and has already used 27 different pitchers. Some of them, like Chris Heston and Casey Fien, are no longer with the franchise, while a large number have ended up on the disabled list. Four of the five starting pitchers heading into spring training are on the disabled list (Felix Hernandez, Hisashi Iwakuma, Drew Smyly, and James Paxton), making it even more difficult for manager Scott Servais to work with the current roster.
While there have been some bright spots with the emergence of James Pazos in the bullpen and Sam Gaviglio in the starting rotation, the team has really struggled to stay afloat in the American League West. Injuries have hurt the offense as well, with Mitch Haniger, Jean Segura, and Robinson Cano each spending time on the disabled list. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, the catcher position has also been a black hole on offense, with very few options available to fix the situation. This is why so many new Seattle Mariners trade rumors have surfaced.
Perfect afternoon for a ballgame. ???? pic.twitter.com/aOJVA4lbcn
— Mariners (@Mariners) May 27, 2017
So what is the answer for the Mariners? The team hasn’t scored a single run in the last 20 innings, has lost seven of its last 10 games, and currently has a road record of just 8-20 so far this year. On Sunday afternoon (May 28), the team will be trying to avoid yet another series sweep, this time by a Red Sox club that has now emerged from its own struggles. To do that, the Mariners have starting pitcher Christian Bergman going up against the defending American League Cy Young Award winner, Rick Porcello.
It is very clear that the team needs to improve its starting pitching, which is why the latest Seattle Mariners trade rumors suggest that Sonny Gray could be a good fit with the team. It would mean pulling off a trade with a division rival (Oakland Athletics), but Gray could provide the Mariners with much-needed depth in the starting rotation. It would also take away a starting pitcher from a divisional team who has had a lot of success pitching against the Mariners. Can Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto pull off a deal like this one?
In five starts for the Athletics this season, Gray has posted a 3.34 ERA and 1.079 WHIP over 29 2/3 innings of work. Those are impressive numbers, despite Gray missing a bit of time due to injury earlier in the season. The 27-year-old right-hander makes roughly $3.6 million this season and has two more arbitration years left on his contract. It is expected to take a few good prospects in order to convince the Athletics to part with Gray, but the franchise has made it public knowledge that they are looking to deal him before the MLB trade deadline.
.@RealKingFelix chats with the media after throwing a bullpen. Kuma also threw one today at Fenway. pic.twitter.com/2El3hlxlzi
— Mariners (@Mariners) May 27, 2017
There has been no public confirmation that the Mariners and Athletics have been involved in negotiations about Sonny Gray, but he is definitely available for the right price. This is where Dipoto is placed in a difficult position, as he needs to decide if it worth giving up key prospects to immediately improve the starting rotation or whether the team simply doesn’t have the talent to compete for the World Series this year. Seattle Mariners trade rumors are going to lead to action soon, but the question becomes whether the team remains a “buyer” or undertakes a “fire sale.”
[Featured Image by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images]
