New York Yankees: Yankees are better off without Sonny Gray

The New York Yankees traded starting pitcher Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds. The trade makes the Yankees a better team than they were before.

Cincinnati just got sunnier as the New York Yankees traded pitcher Sonny Gray to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

The Reds and the Yankees agreed to a deal that hinge on Gray signing a contract extension with the Reds.

Last week Gray avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one year, $7.5 million contract with the Yankees.

The extension that the trade hinges upon is for three years and is worth $30.5 million and includes a $12 million team option for 2023, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Gray is expected to sign the extension, reports Ken Rosenthal.

The deal could max out at five years and $50 million.

Minor league pitcher Reiver Sanmartin was also sent to the Reds along with Gray.

Second base prospect Shed Long and a high draft pick are what the Yankees get in return.

The Yankees then traded Long to the Seattle Mariners for center fielder Josh Stowers, per Jeff Passan.

Last week Gray told Mike Organ of The Tennessean:

"“Ultimately, you want to play somewhere where you’re wanted. If it just so happens for me to go back to New York, then I’m going to continue to do everything I can to win games, not only for the team, but to better myself as a pitcher and go that route and try to continue to perform at a high level.”"

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told Bryan Hoch of MLB.com:

"“He’s got a good makeup. I just don’t think this is the right spot for him. It’s nothing against Sonny Gray. You live and you learn. There’s examples of people elsewhere that I know eventually have turned it around. He’s not making a lot of money. It’s been a year and a half. I’m not going to be Sisyphus pushing the rock up a hill and having it roll back on top of me. It’s not working.”"

Trading Gray is a good move for the Yankees because they are better off without him.

Gray has struggled with the Yankees since they acquired him in a trade with the Oakland Athletics.

Last year, Gray was 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA and 123 strikeouts.

The Yankees rotation now consists of Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, C.C. Sabathia, James Paxton, and J.A. Happ.

There is no room in the rotation for Gray.

While Gray has a career ERA of 3.66. A 3.17 ERA on the road, he has a 6.98 ERA at Yankee Stadium, another reason why getting rid of Gray is a good thing.

The Yankees were a good team with Gray. Now they are an even better team without him.