The St. Louis Cardinals continued the offseason renovation of their starting pitching Monday, signing All-Star right-hander Sonny Gray.
The Athletic‘s Ken Rosenthal reported terms of the deal as three years and $75 million.
There had been rumblings of discontent among Cardinals fans last week when the team signed a pair of 36-year-old former All-Star starters in Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn, with some fans wondering if they would go after a top-of-the-rotation starter.
The Cards got that in Gray, who went 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts for the Minnesota Twins last season. He also boasted an MLB-leading 2.83 FIP and finished second in the Cy Young Award balloting behind Gerrit Cole.
The 34-year-old veteran has a 98-85 record and 3.47 ERA in 11 seasons that also included stints with the Athletics, Reds and Yankees.
Cardinals fans were generally pleased with the signing, although some were disappointed the team didn’t target Blake Snell or Japanese phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
I’m a Sonny Gray fan, but right now the rotation is made up of Gray and a bunch of #4-5 starters.
If the #STLCards can do one of:
– Sign Yamamoto
– Trade for Dylan Cease
– Trade for Tyler Glasnow
– Trade for Logan GilbertI’m all in. Then I think they’re a legit contender. https://t.co/4hBCrAu6Mw
— Drew (@Drew3MR) November 27, 2023
Wow. Couldn’t get Snell or Yamamoto.
— Football Guy's Guy (@bleacherbum23) November 27, 2023
After reportedly agreeing to terms with RHP Sonny Gray, The Cardinals may not be done looking for starting pitching, as they have had trade talks with multiple teams regarding acquiring a front-line starter, sources tell @MLBNerds.
— Jack Azoulay-Haron (@AzoulayHaron) November 27, 2023
*Cardinals literally sign last year’s Cy Young runner-up*
Random “fan”: “Wow, that sucks. Why couldn’t they get anyone better?”
— Charlie Fillenwarth (@illinifan1280) November 27, 2023
He’s one of the most underrated starters in the league. Very good signing.
— Football Guy’s Guy (@bleacherbum23) November 27, 2023
The Cards quest for 3rd place begins today!!
— Ultramet LAX (@ultramet) November 27, 2023
Huge move for their staff, especially after last year.
— Zipchair (@Zipchair) November 27, 2023
[Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic; Jon Heyman, New York Post]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.