Sonny Gray’s Interest in Yankees Raised His Trade Value

The long and winding relationship between Sonny Gray and the New York Yankees just took another turn, thanks to some recent comments from Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.

What started as a flashy 2017 trade deadline move has turned into a story about player honesty, media spin, and the unique pressure of playing in New York.

Now, Gray’s wearing a Red Sox uniform, ready to stir up the rivalry from the other side and maybe, finally, write a happier chapter.

Sonny Gray’s Complicated Yankees Tenure

When the Yankees traded for Sonny Gray in July 2017, they thought they were getting a postseason-ready ace.

Gray, still in his prime, said all the right things about being excited for New York and the chance to pitch under the bright lights.

But behind closed doors, things weren’t as rosy as they sounded.

Cashman’s Revelation: “He Never Wanted to Be Here”

Brian Cashman recently said that Gray later admitted he never really wanted to play in New York.

Cashman claims Gray told Yankees leadership that he only acted interested because his agent pushed him to, hoping to keep his free agency value high and his image marketable.

Cashman described a blunt post-2018 meeting where Gray confessed he hated New York, didn’t like the city, and spent most of his time hiding out in his hotel room.

That honesty showed up after the Yankees had already spent a season and a half trying to make it work.

The Agent Pushes Back

Gray’s agent, Bo McKinnis, flat-out denies Cashman’s story.

McKinnis says telling a client to fake interest in a city he hates would be reckless and could actually hurt the player’s career.

The agent’s stance really highlights the push and pull in these big trades—front offices want to control the story, players want to protect their image, and agents try to keep long-term options open.

On-Field Struggles and an Awkward Exit

Gray’s time in New York just never lived up to the hype.

His stats and even his body language showed a pitcher who couldn’t quite settle into the Bronx spotlight.

Underwhelming Results and a Boos-Fueled Flashpoint

In parts of two seasons with the Yankees, Gray posted a 15–16 record and a 4.52 ERA.

For a team with World Series dreams, those numbers didn’t cut it.

Things really hit bottom in August 2018, when the Yankees pulled Gray from the rotation after he seemed to smile while fans booed him off the mound.

Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was a bad moment, but fans and media saw it as a sign he was either overwhelmed or just didn’t care.

By January 2019, the Yankees traded Gray to the Cincinnati Reds and called it quits on the experiment.

Mixed Signals and Misaligned Expectations

Cashman said the team kept getting mixed signals about how Gray really felt.

Reports that he wanted to be a Yankee shaped their decisions, even as his performance and demeanor told another story.

It’s a reminder that in today’s game, perception matters almost as much as performance.

Teams watch what players say and do just as closely as they analyze the numbers.

Sonny Gray’s Career Renaissance

Even after the rough patch in New York, Gray has built a 13-season career across several teams and markets.

The 36-year-old is a three-time All-Star, pitching for:

Each stop has shaped his reputation—young ace in Oakland, misfit in New York, and then a bounce-back in smaller markets where his talent shined again.

Joining Boston and Reigniting the Rivalry

Now, the story gets even more interesting.

Gray has joined the Boston Red Sox, even waiving a no-trade clause to make it happen—a bold move for someone who once said he didn’t like big-market chaos.

In Boston, Gray’s talked openly about wanting to be himself on the mound and embracing the rivalry with the Yankees.

For a guy who once hid out in his hotel room in New York, that’s a pretty big shift.

A New Stage, Same Spotlight

By choosing Boston, Gray isn’t dodging the spotlight. He’s stepping back into it, but this time on his own terms.

The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry always brings emotion, attention, and plenty of noise. It also hands him a real shot: a chance to reshape his legacy right in the division where his toughest moments played out.

Sonny Gray’s story with the Yankees goes deeper than stats. It’s about comfort, honesty, and whether he ever truly fit in—now, from Fenway Park, he’ll get his shot to show New York who he really is.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Cashman: Gray put Yankees in play to raise value