UPDATE: Yankees general manager Brian Cashman unleashed a scathing response to former pitcher Sonny Gray‘s recent remarks about his turbulent tenure in New York during the opening of the GM Meetings in Orlando, Florida, on July 15, 2023. Gray, who was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox, openly criticized his time with the Yankees, claiming it was “not a good situation” and that he “never wanted to go there.”
This confrontation comes just five days after Gray’s comments, making it clear that tensions remain high. Cashman was asked about Gray’s anti-Yankee sentiment, leading to a nearly three-minute diatribe where he revealed shocking details about Gray’s mindset during his two seasons with the Yankees, where he posted a disappointing record of 15-16 and a 4.51 ERA.
During a late-season meeting in 2018, Gray confessed to Cashman that he had been pressured by his agent to publicly pursue a trade to the Yankees, stating, “I never wanted to be here. I hate New York.” Cashman expressed disbelief, saying, “It’s a little late now,” emphasizing the complexities of the situation.
Gray’s initial desire to join the Yankees was a stark contrast to his feelings once he arrived. Cashman recounted, “He was telling our minor-league video coordinator, ‘You got to get me over to the Yankees. I want out of Oakland. I want to win a world championship… blah, blah, blah.’” But after struggling in New York, Gray’s narrative shifted dramatically.
Now, as Gray prepares to play for the Yankees’ biggest rival, the Red Sox, he claims to be happy in a place where “it’s easy to hate the Yankees.” However, questions linger about whether he can handle the pressure in another major market. Will Gray’s situation repeat itself, or has he truly found peace in Boston?
This explosive exchange highlights the ongoing drama in Major League Baseball as the Yankees and their fans await the next chapter in Gray’s career. Stay tuned for further developments as the season progresses.
