Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Could Have 'Plenty Of Teams Interested' In $75 Million Summer Trade Chip

The St. Louis hurler might become a crucial trade deadline asset
Nate Hagerty|
Apr 9, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; (editors note: multiple exposure image) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Apr 9, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; (editors note: multiple exposure image) St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals hoped to significantly reduce their payroll this winter but their efforts have been stunted by their inability to trade 10-time Gold Glove defender Nolan Arenado.

Other potential trade chips, such as right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas and left-handed pitcher Steven Matz, are tied to contracts that far outweigh their true value.

Another Cardinals hurler who could've been shopped this offseason invoked his full no-trade clause despite the rebuilding franchise's current predicament. Perhaps the veteran RHP will change his mind this summer.

"Despite the Cardinals being pretty open about their plans to take a step back in 2025, (Sonny) Gray apparently wasn't interested in waiving his no-trade clause this past offseason," Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly wrote Thursday. "If he changes his mind on that this summer, there will be plenty of teams interested in his services, even if he's probably a better fit for a smaller market."

Gray logged a 13-9 record with a 3.84 ERA, 203-to-39 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .228 batting average against and a 1.09 WHIP in 166 1/3 innings pitched for the Cardinals in 2024.

The 35-year-old signed a backloaded three-year, $75 million deal with the Cardinals last offseason, quickly becoming a fan favorite as their rotation's ace.

The three-time All-Star seems to prefer staying with the Cardinals, as St. Louis is close to his home state of Tennessee. Gray has also expressed interest in mentoring the club's youth movement, signaling no immediate desire to be traded.

It's too early to tell whether Gray would be open to a potential trade at this summer's deadline. Based on his recent behavior, it's safe to say the Cardinals ace likely isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

More MLB: MLB Columnist Reveals Cardinals 'Best Hope' Of Finding Trade Spot For Nolan Arenado

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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