The Reds and Yankees completed their much discussed deal for Sonny Gray:

The New York Yankees have traded Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league second baseman Shed Long and the Reds’ competitive balance pick for 2019, which is expected to be around #37 overall. As part of the deal, Gray has agreed to a three year, $30.5 million extension for 2020-22 with a 2023 club option. In addition, lefthanded pitcher Reiver Sanmartin goes from New York to the Reds.

It was clear from the start of the offseason that the Yankees were going to move on from Sonny Gray, and there was some talk that he might even get non-tendered. Instead of non-tendering him, however, the Yankees have managed to move him, along with a fringe pitching prospect, to the Reds for a solid second base prospect and a draft pick between the first and second rounds. Not a bad capturing some value from an asset generally seen as significantly diminished.

Lone Star Ball

Shed (short for Shedric) will play 2019 as a 23 -year-old with 168 games unders his belt at AA. His strength offensively is getting on base. The Yankees have stocked up on middle infielders. That gives them flexibility to flip one of the veterans at the trade deadline, and depth in the system if one of the youngsters doesn’t continue to develop.

Gray gets to start over as the Reds continue to revamp their rotation. The last four seasons he has allowed a decent number of home runs, but maybe getting to face the opposing pitcher more often will help counter the his likely higher home run totals at Great American Ballpark.