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The Houston Astros http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-ozzie-smith-jersey ,Dodgers still have their championship aspirations intact, but the other 26 Major League teams are all looking ahead to the 2019 season.That includes the New York Yankees, who were beaten by the Red Sox in the American League Division Series. General manager Brian Cashman saw his team finish eight games behind the Red Sox during the regular season in addition to dropping the postseason series, and he knows his team has to make some moves to close the gap on the Old Towne Team.One of those moves is likely to involve pitcher Sonny Gray, who was acquired by the Yankees in the 2017 season. Gray was quite sharp earlier in his career with the Oakland A's, but he has largely struggled since donning the pinstripes.Gray was 11-9 with a 4.90 earned-run average in 2018, and he had a 1.496 WHIP. In addition to the numbers, Gray seemed to have a difficult time throwing with confidence in key games for the Yankees.Cashman believes that Gray is talented, but pitching under the microscope in New York City has not helped him. The general manager willtry to move Gray in the offseason Albert Pujols Jersey , according to David Lennon of Newsday.The 28-year-old Gray is arbitration eligible in the upcoming season and could be a free agent in 2020. He made the All-Star team in 2015 and has finished as high as third in Cy Young voting, so the Yankees should be able to get a decent-to-good asset for him.The Philadelphia Phillies were in contention for the National League East title throughout much of the summer before they struggled in the final weeks and gave way to the Atlanta Braves.The Phillies are expected to be heavily involved in free agency during the offseason, and they could be among the suitors for superstars Manny Machado of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals.It seems unlikely that they could sign both of those players, but Jon Heyman of FanCred Sports says that possibility should not be ruled out.The Phillies have been interested in Machado since it became known that the Baltimore Orioles were willing to move him, but signing Harper could have a more significant impact because he could help their lineup and also weaken the division rival Washington Nationals.Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs did not have the kind of season that he was hoping for in 2018 as injuries took their toll.However, the 2016 National League Most Valuable Player still has great confidence in his own ability, even though he was held to 13 home runs and 52 runs batted in while playing 102 games.Bryant has reportedly turned down a $200 million contract extension from the Cubs, according toESPN Radio's David Kaplan and alsoSports Illustrated'sScooby Axson.Instead of signing a long-term extension, the belief is that Bryant will receive annual salary increases until he becomes eligible for free agency in 2022 when he turns 30. OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) For a guy who has been a middle-of-the-order hitter most of his career http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-stan-musial-jersey , Jonathan Lucroy is quite comfortable anchoring the bottom of the Athletics lineup.Oakland’s veteran catcher proved that once again after convincing manager Bob Melvin to let him play in a day game following a night game.Lucroy drove in four runs to match his season high and the A’s completed a season sweep of Toronto, beating the Blue Jays 8-3 on Wednesday.”This is a workhorse, a guy that expects to be back there,” Melvin said of Lucroy. ”He had eight or nine RBIs in his last 10 games and had four more today. Not only is he doing his job behind the plate, he’s picking up the pace offensively and driving in some runs, too.”The A’s won all seven games between the two teams this year for their first season sweep of the Blue Jays.Oakland also moved into a tie with Seattle for the second wild card. The Mariners lost to Houston 8-3.Franklin Barreto homered and had three RBIs for the Athletics. Lucroy added three hits.”When you have a real deep lineup, sooner or later someone in the lineup’s going to get you,” Lucroy said. ”Might not be the first five guys, might not be the last four guys. It could be anyone in between.”Russell Martin homered for Toronto.”All three days we didn’t get really any shutdown pitching at all from our bullpen guys,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ”We haven’t been scoring much either.”Sean Manaea (10-7) bounced back from a shaky outing in Colorado Roger Maris Jersey , pitching effectively into the seventh inning and allowing one run while frequently working through traffic. He gave up five hits, struck out five and walked two.Toronto starter Marcus Stroman (4-8) allowed seven runs and 11 hits in five innings.”They did a great job of putting the ball in play, early in the count and late in the count,” Stroman said. ”Frustrating. My stuff felt great.”Oakland backed Manaea with plenty of offense, most of it supplied from the bottom half of the lineup. The final five A’s batters combined for 11 hits and drove in seven runs.”We don’t have a lot of experience overall in our lineup but we have guys that can swing it and guys that can hit up and down,” Lucroy said. ”It’s really cool to be a part of. Whenever you have that kind of depth in your lineup it’s devastating for starting pitchers that we’re facing.”Lucroy, the No. 8 hitter, had a two-run single in the second, an RBI double in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth.Barreto followed Lucroy in the lineup and had a two-run double in the sixth and homered in the eighth. Barreto started in place of All-Star second baseman Jed Lowrie.Russell hit his ninth homer, a two-run drive off Ryan Buchter http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-matt-carpenter-jersey , in the eighth.ROSTER MOVESThe A’s made a flurry of moves after the game. CF Dustin Fowler was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. OF Boog Powell was reinstated from the disabled list and sent to Nashville. RHP Carlos Ramirez was designated for assignment.THIS AND THATMelvin’s 601st career win as manager of the A’s moved him into sole possession of third place on the franchise list. … Oakland 3B Matt Chapman has reached base in a career-high 18 consecutive games. … Martin’s home run was his 63rd with the Blue Jays, tying him with J.P. Arencibia for second-most in team history by a catcher. … Randal Grichuk has 10 extra-base hits in his last 13 games.TRAINER’S ROOMBlue Jays: 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was put on the disabled list with a high ankle sprain and bruised knee. … RHP Danny Barnes was activated after spending more than a month on the disabled list with left knee tendinitis.Athletics: OF Chad Pinder, who injured his left elbow in a car accident in Colorado, has been taking groundballs and could begin swinging a bat Friday. … RHP Daniel Gossett underwent Tommy John surgery. … RHP Andrew Triggs (right arm nerve irritation) played catch for the second time in three days but has yet to throw off a mound.UP NEXTBlue Jays: No starter had been named for Thursday’s game in Seattle.Athletics: LHP Brett Anderson (2-3, 5.55) faces the Detroit Tigers at the Coliseum on Friday. Both of Anderson’s wins have come since he came off the disabled list July 8.—