Minnesota Twins Odds After Sonny Gray Trade

Sonny Gray Trade Gives Minnesota Division Odds Boost

The 2021 season was a disaster for the Minnesota Twins. After winning the AL Central in back-to-back seasons, the Twins came in last place in the division. Minnesota finished with just 73 wins and traded away Nelson Cruz and Jose Berrios when it became apparent the Twins weren’t making their third straight trip to the postseason. That seemed to signal a rebuild for Minnesota, but trading 2021 first-round pick Chase Petty to Cincinnati for Sonny Gray and a minor league prospect is a win-now move for the Twins.

Minnesota Bolsters Its Rotation With Gray

Pitching was a major issue for the Twins last season. Kenta Maeda was heralded as an ace coming into the 2021 season after finishing runner-up to Shane Bieber for the AL Cy Young Award in the shortened 2020 campaign. However, Maeda had his worst season as a starter, posting a 4.66 ERA and a 1.298 WHIP.

He wasn’t the only arm to struggle as Randy Dobnak imploded after a strong first two seasons in the majors. Jose Berrios was Minnesota’s best arm, but he was dealt to Toronto in late July for top prospects Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson.

Sonny Gray has been a solid pitcher over his nine years in the majors. His only bad season was in 2016, and he was an All-Star and Cy Young contender with the Reds in 2019. Gray will immediately help shore up this Minnesota rotation, and the Twins are now down to +750 to win the AL Central. Chicago is still the team to beat, but Minnesota can challenge for a Wild Card spot in the expanded postseason.

Cincinnati Fans Continue To Be Flustered

“Sell the team, Bob!” has become a common refrain at Great American Ball Park over the past 15 years. Owner Bob Castellini promised to bring winning baseball back to Cincinnati, but one of the most storied franchises in the sport has never made it further than the Divisional Series under his stewardship.

The decision to trade Gray was met with plenty of grumbling among Reds fans. Cincinnati already opted not to re-sign fan favorite Nick Castellanos after an All-Star season in 2021, and the Reds currently have just a $95 million payroll.

Cincinnati currently has the third-longest odds to win the NL Central behind a Chicago Cubs team that traded away all of their best players last summer and the perpetually rebuilding Pittsburgh Pirates.