St. Louis Cardinals Sign Sonny Gray

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free agent starting pitcher Sonny Gray to a three-year contract, worth $75 million. The contract includes a team option for 2027, worth $30 million and it comes with a $5 million buyout. The buyout is included in the overall guarantee. 

Gray, 34, was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 184 innings, 183 strikeouts, and 55 walks with the Minnesota Twins in 2023. Gray finished as the runner-up to New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole in the AL Cy Young. 

Gray has been an All-Star 3 times: (2015, 2019, and 2023). 

Gray had his best season in 2015, with the Oakland Athletics. That season, Gray was 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA, 31 games, 31 starts, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 208 innings, 169 strikeouts, and 59 walks. The wins and shutouts both tied career highs from 2014 for Gray. The ERA was a career best for Gray and the complete games were a career high. In 2014, Gray had career highs in games (33), starts (33), and innings (219). Gray had a career in strikeouts (205) in 2019, with the Cincinatti Reds. 

Overall, Gray has played 11 seasons in the MLB. Gray is 98-85 with a 3.47 ERA, 279 games, 270 starts, 6 complete games, 4 shutouts, 1,571 innings, 1,521 strikeouts, 544 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

How does Gray look against the other teams in the National League Central? 

Against the Chicago Cubs, Gray is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA, 11 games, 11 starts, 60.1 innings, 79 strikeouts, and 14 walks. 

Against the Reds, Gray is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 1 game, 1 start, 7.2 innings, 4 strikeouts, and 1 walk. 

Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Gray is 4-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 13 games, 13 starts, 70.1 innings, 91 strikeouts, and 30 walks. 

Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gray is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA, 10 games, 9 starts, 51.2 innings, 53 strikeouts, and 16. 

As of right now the Cardinals starting rotation looks like it could be Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Steven Matz. Gray would be a good no.2 if the Cardinals were to acquire a no.1 starter. On paper, the Cardinals have improved their starting rotation slightly from last season. Again, a no.1 starter would be if they were to find a way to accomplish that. In order to do that, Matz would probably need to be traded or moved to the bullpen. Matz has trouble staying healthy. 

I think the Cardinals probably shift to the bullpen next. I think if the Cardinals had a good bullpen last season, they would have made the playoffs. It's also nice to see the Cardinals being active early and making moves, I don't think many people thought they'd do anything early.