Billy Beane says Sonny Gray is not for sale

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray would be in high demand if Oakland decided to shop him. AP

By Gary Dzen

November 5, 2015

1 minute to read

Or is he?

Oakland Athletics vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane told Peter Gammons this week that 26-year-old ace Sonny Gray is not available via trade.

“Trading Gray is not something I think we could do,’’ Bean told Gammons. “We have to put a representative product on the field, and continue to dream we get a ballpark. We should have good pitching, with Gray, Jarrod Parker, Kendall Graveman, Jesse Hahn, Chris Bassitt, maybe Sean Manaea during the season. I just cannot see us trading Gray or (Josh) Reddick.’’

Gray has a 2.88 ERA in 2 1/2 seasons in Oakland. The Red Sox have a need for pitching this offseason, leading some to suggest that the A’s would make a natural trading partner if they weren’t planning to sign their ace long-term. Gammons touches on that in his story.

But when this next group of young players is playing regularly, will the Athletics be able to afford Gray? “Good question, but I think so,’’ says Beane. “I look at the way the market is going and realize the teams with the money are going to spend it on free agent pitching rather than trading three or four top prospects. Good young players are worth too much today.’’

h/t NESN.com

Photos: The Green Monster through the years

[bdc-gallery id=”462880″]