MLB rumors: A's called CC Sabathia, could target Sonny Gray for pitching

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The A's are desperate for help in their starting rotation headed into MLB free agency, and they reportedly tried to turn to a hometown kid to get some.

Oakland called Vallejo native CC Sabathia before he re-signed with the New York Yankees on a one-year, $8 million contract, according to FanCred's Jon Heyman. With Sabathia off the market, Heyman wrote that the A's are prepared to turn to another Yankee with Oakland ties: Sonny Gray.

Last month, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the team entered the offseason "open-minded to a relocation" of Gray. The Yankees acquired Gray from the A's ahead of the trade deadline in 2017, in exchange for a package centered around outfielder Dustin Fowler and infielder Jorge Mateo.

Gray, 29, said playing for the Yankees was his dream, but the past year-and-a-half has been anything but that. In 41 appearances with New York, Gray is 15-16 with a 4.51 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Gray particularly struggled at Yankee Stadium after the trade, posting a 6.55 ERA in 88 innings. In 107.2 innings away from Yankee Stadium, Gray posted a 2.84 ERA with the Bronx Bombers.

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum is much friendlier to pitchers than Yankee Stadium is, as Gray can attest from his successful A's stint from 2013 to 2017. Considering that success (44-36 with a 3.42 ERA in 114 games) and how thin Oakland's rotation was down the stretch after a litany of injuries, it's easy to see why the A's might want to turn to a familiar face.

[ROSS: What A's can learn from previous MLB free agency bargains]

[SOURCE: A's hope to re-sign starting pitcher Edwin Jackson; four MLB teams also interested]

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