Despite the solid start to the year, sitting at 37-35, the St. Louis Cardinals are still predicted to be sellers at the MLB trade deadline. With plenty of intriguing assets available, in the final years of their deals, the Cardinals could get a lot by trading their players to set themselves up for a brighter future.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer predicted that the Cardinals, amid their plethora of tradeable talent, would ship off a former New York Yankees starting pitcher who’s under contract for $75 million. That pitcher is Sonny Gray.
When Rymer identified trade candidates for the Cardinals, Nolan Arenado was one of the top names. But, he also mentioned others who could be on the move. “Otherwise,” Rymer writes. “Ryan Helsley, Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, and Miles Mikolas are here, too.”
Gray is in the middle of a three-year, $75 million deal he signed in the 2024 offseason. He’s signed through the 2026 season, with a club option for $30 million in 2027. While a team could decide not to retain him with the club option, it does provide extra stability for a team interested in acquiring the starting pitcher.
In 2025, Gray has been solid once again. Through his first 14 starts of the season, he has a 3.84 ERA and a 7-2 record. His 79.2 innings have come with 85 strikeouts and just 15 walks, showcasing his elite command and his ability to strike batters out at a high clip like he’s done in his career.
Across his incredible 13-year MLB career, Gray has made his mark on multiple franchises. The 2025 season is his second in St. Louis, but even so, his impact has been great. He struck out 203 batters for St. Louis in 2024, and he was also a 13-game winner for the club.
But, despite his solid numbers, it hasn’t lived up to his 2023 season when he was named an All-Star, and finished with a 2.79 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 184 innings pitched. The Cardinals signed Gray to his massive deal after that season, but he hasn’t pitched to that level yet.
If the Cardinals decide to move on from Gray, it would be in part due to Gray not living up to the lofty expectations from his second-best season in the Major Leagues. But, at 35 years old, Gray is expected to be in high demand if he becomes available at the trade deadline. If the Cardinals sell, he’d be one of their most sought-after pieces.
The Cardinals are seven games behind the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central lead, and with the current situation on the roster, they could be ready to part ways with plenty of their players.
Gray, with his solid numbers and expensive contract, could be one of those players on the move. With plenty of teams in need of starting pitching and the years of control remaining for Gray, the Cardinals could fetch a nice return for the former Yankees starter.
