During the opening night of the General Managers Meetings on March 3, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman addressed the controversial tenure of pitcher Sonny Gray with the team. Gray, a three-time All-Star, recently expressed his dissatisfaction with his time in New York after being traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox.
In his first interview since the trade, Gray reflected on his struggles in the Bronx during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He stated, “New York was just not a good situation for me. It wasn’t a great setup for me and my family. I never wanted to go there in the first place.” This comment prompted Cashman to respond during the GM Meetings, where he provided a detailed account of Gray’s time with the Yankees.
Cashman recounted how Gray had actively sought a trade to New York back in 2017 while playing for the Oakland Athletics. The pitcher, eager for a chance to compete for a championship, communicated to various individuals within the Yankees organization, including their minor-league video coordinator. Cashman stated, “He was telling us he wanted to be a Yankee. He is a hell of a pitcher, so we made a trade, acquired him, and he said he was excited.”
Despite the initial enthusiasm, Gray struggled on the mound, finishing his time with the Yankees with a record of 15-16 and a 4.51 ERA. Cashman revealed a notable conversation between the two after the trade deadline in 2018, where Gray admitted, “I thought you were going to trade me,” and then expressed his true feelings about New York. Gray reportedly told Cashman, “I’ve never wanted to be here. I hate New York. This is the worst place.”
In that meeting, Gray disclosed that his agent, Bo McKinnis, had advised him to express a desire for a trade to the Yankees, claiming it would benefit his free agency prospects. Cashman expressed frustration, stating, “I wish you would have told me this well beforehand. I wish we knew this before we even tried to acquire you.”
After his brief and tumultuous stint with the Yankees, Gray found success elsewhere, becoming an All-Star again in 2019 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds and again in 2023 with the Minnesota Twins. Over his 13-year career, he has an overall record of 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA, contrasting sharply with his performance in New York.
As Gray prepares to join the Red Sox, the Yankees’ biggest rival, he has claimed to be content with “being in a place where it’s easy to hate the Yankees.” Cashman’s revelations about Gray’s past comments and the complexities of his time in New York highlight the challenges athletes often face when transitioning to high-pressure environments.
The narrative surrounding Gray’s experiences serves as a reminder of the intense scrutiny and expectations that come with playing for a storied franchise like the Yankees. As the new season approaches, it will be interesting to see how Gray performs under the spotlight in Boston.
