Twins Acquire Sonny Gray in Blockbuster Trade

Many didn’t think it would happen, myself included. But just after 12:30 CDT on March 13, 2022, the Minnesota Twins sent their 2022 first round draft pick, Chase Petty, to the Cincinnati Reds for a bona fide front-rotation starter in Sonny Gray. High-A minor league pitcher, Francis Peguero, came in the deal as well.

The #MNTwins have acquired Sonny Gray and Francis Peguero from the Reds in exchange for Chase Petty.

Needed big move for an impact starter.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) March 13, 2022

#MNTwins acquire Sonny Gray from CIN in exchange for Chase Petty pic.twitter.com/ZBbG5tStRS

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) March 13, 2022

Gray comes in on quite the team-friendly deal, when you look at what’s been handed out over the last few days. He has one year remaining on a contract that pays him just over $10 million per season (Spotrac). The Twins can trigger a club option for 2023, at $12 million.

Sonny Gray’s Role and Statistics

Cincinnati was ok losing Gray, who had a bit of a down season in 2021. His 135 innings and 4.19 ERA were both good for only 4th-best in a really good Reds rotation. That won’t be the case in Minnesota, where Gray will, for now, slot in as the undeniable #1 guy.

But Falvine hopes a higher-leverage role will bring back more of what the league saw from Gray in 2019, his first season with the Reds. That was the year he finished 7th in Cy Young voting, pitching 175 innings with an ERA under 3.00.

Hopefully, the Minnesota Twins don’t see their rotation as complete. Gray is a very good addition but he’s obviously not a #1 pitcher on a playoff team. They need more. Here’s Derek Falvey on the trade.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey explains why he was eager to acquire Sonny Gray from Reds: pic.twitter.com/9W431RTLjj

— Phil Miller (@MillerStrib) March 13, 2022

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan