NL Central opponent supposed to be closing a contract with ex-Reds pitcher

admin | November 28, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Sonny Gray does not appear to be returning to the Cincinnati Reds, but rather returning to the NL Central.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports that the St. Louis Cardinals and former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sonny Gray are set to clinch a contract on Monday.

For many Reds supporters, Gray has been the ideal free agent signing; nevertheless, it looks that the right-hander will be joining Cincinnati’s bitterest opponent.

Before the 2022 season, Gray was transferred to the Minnesota Twins, where he went on to win the AL Cy Young Award in 2023 with a second-place vote. This past season, Gray was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA while pitching for the Twins.

NL Central rival rumored to be finalizing deal with former Reds pitcher Sonny Gray

Sonny Gray had a disastrous two-year stint with the New York Yankees before spending three seasons in Cincinnati. Gray had a 4.61 ERA in two seasons with the Bronx, going 15–16.

Before the 2019 season, Gray and left-hander Reiver Sanmartin were dealt to the Cincinnati Reds. That season, Gray made his second appearance in the All-Star Game of his career and, with Luis Castillo, he constituted a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the Reds rotation.

In 2022, Gray was traded to the Twins for Chase Petty, a former first-round selection. In addition to losing out on former All-Stars Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez that spring, the Reds’ collapse started with Gray.

Sonny Gray will be the third starter signed by St. Louis this offseason as a free agency. Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson have already signed one-year contracts with the Cardinals, but Gray is the big fish that St. Louis supporters have been hoping John Mozeliak would sign this summer.

The Cardinals are not used to finishing last in the NL Central, which is not where they usually end up. Cincinnati’s rotation will need some reinforcements, and this anticipated agreement with Gray will put pressure on Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall to get them.