Yankees acquire Sonny Gray for 3 prospects to boost rotation

In an aggressive move designed to boost their starting rotation for an unexpected playoff run, the Yankees acquired pitcher Sonny Gray from the Oakland Athletics for three minor league prospects on Monday.

Oakland received Jorge Mateo, a top shortstop-outfielder prospect at Double-A; right-hander James Kaprielian, the 16th overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft who is recovering from Tommy John surgery on April 18; and Dustin Fowler, an outfielder who ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee in the first inning of his major league debut on June 29, ending his season.

"Most of our serious conversations were with the Yankees," Athletics executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said in Oakland, California.

Last season, the scuffling Yankees stockpiled prospects at the trade deadline by dealing away veteran stars Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman and Carlos Beltran.

Up in Boston, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was asked about New York's latest move and had some fun with a preseason comment by Cashman, who compared the Red Sox to the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors after Boston acquired ace pitcher Chris Sale during the offseason.

Gray missed his scheduled opening-day starts each of the past two seasons, with food poisoning last year and because of a lat strain that caused a trip to the disabled list at the start of this season.

Gray worked with a personal trainer for the first time this past offseason and appreciated the guidance through his regular arm care and maintenance routine.

Gray was on the disabled list from May 21 to June 4 last year with a strain in his upper back, then went back on the DL again with a strained right forearm.