Reds place SP Sonny Gray on 10-day IL with groin strain

The Reds announced that they placed starter Sonny Gray on the 10-day injured list with a right groin strain. The team recalled fellow right-hander Art Warren from Triple-A Louisville to take Gray’s roster spot.

It has been a rough year from an injury standpoint for Gray, who had a delayed start because of a back issue. Since the Reds activated him on April 17, Gray has pitched to a strong 3.42 ERA/3.52 SIERA with a 30.1 percent strikeout rate (the second-best mark of his career) and a roughly average 9.3 percent walk rate across 50 innings.

Of course, success in Cincinnati isn’t anything new for Gray, who has enjoyed a career renaissance since the Reds acquired him from the Yankees before the 2019 campaign. While little went right for Gray in New York, he has given the Reds 281 1/3 innings of 3.14 ERA ball, and he has done so at a bargain rate. The Reds shrewdly extended Gray to a three-year, $30M guarantee when they landed him. That deal also includes a $12M club option for 2023, and though plenty can happen between now and then, Gray’s on track to have it picked up.

Considering Gray’s combination of high-quality performance and appealing contract, the Reds could be content to keep him for the life of his deal. On the other hand, the team did listen to offers for the 31-year-old last offseason, and it hasn’t gotten off to a good start in 2021. With the Reds in fourth place in the National League Central and the July 30 deadline looming, Gray could be a viable trade candidate this summer. In the meantime, he’ll have to get healthy.