The Yankees traded pitcher Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds, and the right-hander has reached an extension with his new team.
He reportedly signed a three-year, $30.5 million extension covering 2020-22, with a club option for '23.
The deal is part of a three-way trade with the Seattle Mariners. Second base prospect Shed Long, acquired from the trade for Gray, is headed to the Mariners. Seattle is sending center field prospect Josh Stowers to New York. The Yankees also received the Reds' 2019 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 36 overall), giving New York two of the first 36 picks and three of the top 68. The Yankees also traded left-handed minor league pitcher Reiver Sanmartin to the Reds.
Stowers was Seattle's second-round draft pick (54th overall) from Louisville last year. The 21-year-old spent his first professional season with the Class A Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League. Stowers hit .260 with five homers and 28 RBI in 58 games.
Gray will again work with Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson, who was also his coach at Vanderbilt University. Gray's new home in Cincy means the righty will be closer to his home in Nashville, Tenn.
The Giants, A's, Brewers and Braves were all interested in Gray, according to Fancred's Jon Heyman.
Gray was acquired by the Yankees from the A's on the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline in 2017. The 29-year-old struggled mightily during his two-year stint with the Yankees. Gray went 4-7 on a 3.72 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 27 walks over 11 starts from Aug. 3 to Sept. 28 in 2017. The right-hander began the season 2018 season 10-11 on a 5.56 ERA, then was demoted to bullpen in early August.
He showed fairer results in Oakland, posting a 3.42 ERA across 112 starts over five seasons. But his home-road splits since joining the Yankees are striking. At home, Gray posted a 6.55 ERA and allowed 19 home runs over 88 innings. On the road, Gray held a 2.84 ERA with only six homers over 107.2 innings. New York had high hopes for the ground-ball pitcher, but Gray could not adjust in the Bronx.
Gray was an All-Star with Oakland during the 2015 season. He finished the year going 14-7 on a 2.73 ERA with 169 strikeouts, while pitching three complete games and two shutouts -- the highest of any American League pitcher in '15. He ranked third in AL Cy Young Award voting for that terrific season.
The Reds had been interested in Gray since early in the offseason, but the Yankees briefly shelved talks revolved around dealing the 29-year-old after CC Sabathia underwent a heart procedure and his status for the 2019 was unclear. Sabathia was recently given the clearance to pitch, though, and interest ramped back up, with at least six teams inquiring about Gray.
The Yankees recently avoided arbitration with Gray, agreeing to a $7.5 million deal for 2019.