It seems like every team looks for one thing: young controllable starters.
With several arms headed to the open market at season’s end, the Cubs need control. Gray fits this model, being both young and controllable moving forward.
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Gray is 28 years old, is arbitration-eligible starting in 2018 and becomes a free agent in 2020. Additionally, he only makes just above $3.5 million this year.
You would think that since Gray is young and controllable he would command a high asking price. However, given his question marks, his market value remains to be seen.
Gray could be worth only a few top prospects or he could be worth some major league talent. The thing is, we don’t really know.
In today’s game we don’t really have an apt comparison to what a Sonny Gray trade would look like. I will tell you that I’m sure Billy Beane’s asking price is much more reasonable than it would’ve been two years ago.
The Cubs have a better idea than I do as to what the A’s asking price might be. If it’s reasonable, I say the Cubs should go Gray. It shores up the rotation not just for a stretch run in 2017, but for years to come.