Chicago Cubs: Why Sonny Gray is the only acceptable answer

As recent as 2015, Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray was one of baseball’s rising stars on the bump. Is he a Chicago Cubs’ target?

It’s no secret the Chicago Cubs need pitching help. One of the top available arms exists in the form of Athletics’ ace Sonny Gray, who has battled up-and-down performance in his still-young career.

Gray pitched to a 2.73 ERA and had a 1.082 WHIP  in 31 starts during the 2015 season.  The past two seasons, unfortunately, have been a different story.

Last year, he had a whopping 5.69 ERA and a WHIP of 1.496 in only 22 starts because he battled injuries throughout the year.  This season has been better, but not by much.

So far in his 2017 campaign, Gray owns a 4.44 ERA, a 93 ERA and a WHIP of 1.348.  These numbers compute to Gray still being a +0.3 WAR pitcher.

You may wonder why the Cubs should deal for Gray. Many point to his inconsistency and health issues as major detractors. I’m here to break down why this is the logical move for Theo and Jed.

How about we bring the heat?

Fear not because Gray’s velocity hasn’t dropped off; it has actually picked up.  According to Fangraphs, Gray’s four-seam fastball is currently 93.4 mph, which is up 0.5 mph from last year.

His two-seam fastball is 93.3 mph, +0.7 mph from last year.  His slider is down a little bit, but a little decrease on a secondary or tertiary pitch should be no big deal.

The 28-year-old starter has been known for the nastiness of his pitches throughout his career.  Being only 5’10” and 190 pounds doesn’t equate to packing the punch of a fastball that can touch the mid-to-upper 90s.

Seeing that the velocity and his stuff is still there is a great sign.  Imagine if Chris Bosio could take him under his wing. It could pose a threat to hitters everywhere.