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Yankees put Gray trade on hold following Sabathia's surgery

Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports

The New York Yankees entered the offseason with a clear plan to trade starting pitcher Sonny Gray.

While a trade is still expected eventually, the team has slowed talks following CC Sabathia's heart surgery in late December, according to Newsday's David Lennon.

"Our intention is to move Sonny Gray," general manager Brian Cashman said, according to Brendan Kuty of NJ.com. "Could happen in offseason, could happen in spring, could happen during the season."

The Yankees expect to explore trade partners for Gray once Sabathia gets a clean bill of health.

New York is projected to enter the season with a rotation including Luis Severino, James Paxton, Masahiro Tanaka, J.A. Happ, and Sabathia if he's ready. If he isn't healthy, Gray could serve as a decent stopgap.

Gray hasn't been a great fit for the Yankees since they acquired him from the Oakland Athletics in 2017. He's 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 195 2/3 innings since his arrival.

That hasn't exactly spurned interest in the 29-year-old, however, as the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds are among the teams that have inquired about Gray this offseason.

The right-hander's tenure with the Yankees hasn't been a total disaster, which could explain opposing teams' curiosity. In fact, it's been quite impressive when he's taken the mound away from Yankee Stadium. Gray went 7-5 with a 3.17 ERA and 1.16 WHIP on the road last season compared to a 6.98 ERA in his home confines.

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