Report: Brewers' pursuit of Gray 'fading'
The trade deadline forecast in Milwaukee is quickly turning cloudy.
With a week to go before the July 31 non-waiver deadline, sources told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports Monday night that the Brewers are "fading" out of the race to land Oakland Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray.
It's not clear why the Brewers might be losing ground in the race to land the 27-year-old.
The Brewers have been connected to Gray since the All-Star break, and as recently as Monday afternoon they were being cited as one of the "strongest pursuers" of the Vanderbilt product, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
Milwaukee is in need of starting pitching help with ace Chase Anderson injured, and a starting staff that has collectively posted a 4.14 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in the first 10 games of the second half.
Gray is perhaps the most coveted name on the block this deadline thanks to his comeback season after an injury-filled 2016 - he owns a 1.62 ERA and has struck out 27 over his last five starts - as well as his two years of team control remaining.
Related - Athletics' Gray: Trade deadline 'can't get here soon enough'
Suitors have apparently begun to line up in droves to try to land Gray's services; in addition to the Brewers, he's reportedly been targeted by a list of teams that includes the Yankees, Mariners, and Astros, with the Braves supposedly entering the sweepstakes on Monday afternoon.
Milwaukee is currently clinging to a half-game lead above the surging Cubs in the NL Central.