Steep Sonny Gray price pushes Yankees into dilemma

If Gray gets traded elsewhere or the Yankees find the price on him too high, then whhty, the Rangers will establish a prospect price that the Yanks cannot tolerate for a rental (he is a free agent after the season). Because he is in his walk year, Darvish would more fit a team comfortably ahead in its division that knows it is in the playoffs, which is the Nationals, Astros and Dodgers. Of that group, Los Angeles is viewed as the strongest contender for Darvish.The Yankees would then consider a walk-year starter such as Minnesota’s Jaime Garcia, St. Louis’ Lance Lynn or Toronto’s Marco Estrada as someone who could cost less in prospects and allow them to improve on a Caleb Smith/Luis Cessa type.ere do they go? They will monitor Yu Darvish. But I get the feeling that to move the righty, the Rangers will establish a prospect price that the Yanks cannot tolerate for a rental (he is a free agent after the season). Because he is in his walk year, Darvish would more fit a team comfortably ahead in its division that knows it is in the playoffs, which is the Nationals, Astros and Dodgers. Of that group, Los Angeles is viewed as the strongest contender for Darvish.The Yankees would then consider a walk-year starter such as Minnesota’s Jaime Garcia, St. Louis’ Lance Lynn or Toronto’s Marco Estrada as someone who could cost less in prospects and allow them to improve on a Caleb Smith/Luis Cessa type.

Also, I sense the Yankees are still thinking about a first baseman who would turn Chase Headley into a backup at both infield corners. They talked briefly with the Mets about Lucas Duda, but were offering the same level of reliever that the Mets received from Tampa (Drew Smith) and, therefore, the Mets preferred to not send Duda crosstown.

The Yankees don’t seem overly excited about Yonder Alonso from Oakland with or without Gray. For now, though, the main focus is Gray with the question being: How much pain are the Yankees willing to endure to make it happen