MLB Trade Rumors: Significant Development in Cardinals' Sonny Gray's Future
A three-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young finalist, Sonny Gray was adamant last offseason that he did not want to be traded by the St. Louis Cardinals. He signed a three-year, $75 million deal with them, and wasn't interested in heading elsewhere.
However, after two years of falling far short of any chance at the postseason, Gray is changing his tune, and is apparently ready for a trade, if that should come to pass.
In 2026, he'll be entering the final year of his contract (with a club option for 2027). And he told reporters this week that he will consider waiving his full no-trade clause this winter.
I think I do (have to consider waiving it), just to be frank and to be honest. I definitely think I do. Whether I do decide that I want to go somewhere – whether that actually happens – I don't have complete control of that. Obviously, I have control of where I can't go or don't go. I'm going to be 36. It's going to be my 14th season. Last year of my contract for this. I don't know what the future holds for me.
As Chaim Bloom takes over the reins of baseball operations this offseason in St. Louis, he'll have big decisions to make on both Gray and Nolan Arenado. Two All-Star veterans who are on the back nine of their careers, and certainly won't be part of the Cardinals' rebuild that he's undertaking.
Gray, 36, finished the 2025 season with a 4.28 ERA in 180 ⅔ innings, but with an xERA of 3.88. He cracked the 200-strikeout mark, and held a sensational 201:38 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He led the NL with the fewest walks-per-nine for a starter, at just 1.9 BB/9, while still posting double-digit strikeouts per nine innings (10 K/9).
He was the runner-up in the Cy Young balloting in 2023 while with the Minnesota Twins, and finished 3rd earlier in his career (2015) while with the Oakland A's.
Overall, Gray has a career 3.58 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 13 major league seasons and 330 starts.
Despite his age and hefty 2026 salary ($35M), he will be in demand on the trade market this winter.
Photo: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
