Cardinals Reportedly Outbid Division Rival To Win Sonny Gray Sweepstakes

St. Louis had competition to claim their ace but prevailed

The St. Louis Cardinals made headlines on Monday morning for making a big splash -- acquiring right-hander Sonny Gray to lead their rotation into the 2024 season and beyond.

The bidding war reportedly was a close one as St. Louis successfully staved off an inter-division rival. 

"According to a source, the (Cincinnati) Reds were pursuing Sonny Gray and were close before he went to the Cardinals on a reported 3-year, $75 million deal," MLB.com's Mark Sheldon wrote Monday.

Gray played for the Reds from 2019-2021 and posted a 3.49 ERA across 68 starts. The 33-year-old hurler collected one of his three All-Star nods in Cincinnati, as well as a seventh-place finish in American League Cy Young voting. 

The right-hander's following tenure with the Minnesota Twins was even stronger -- 2.90 ERA in 56 starts across two seasons -- and he's now hoping to continue his dominance in a Cardinals uniform. 

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was wise to do what it took to land a frontline starter of Gray's caliber, especially if the dynamic veteran almost ended up in the hands of a division rival. 

After a disappointing last-place finish in the National League Central, St. Louis is better off risking possibly overspending instead of staying conservative. That said, $25 million a year for a frontline starter in 2023 is far from ludicrous. 

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