The Cardinals continue their jump on the mid-tier starting pitching market, as they’re nearing a deal with Sonny Gray, according to Jon Heyman.
Ken Rosenthal reports the deal is for three years and $75 million.
St. Louis has already signed Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn to short-term deals this offseason as they look to improve a starting rotation that was 26th in baseball with a 5.08 ERA in 2023.
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The 34-year-old Gray is coming off one of the best years of his career, tossing 184 innings with a 2.79 ERA (2.83 FIP). He finished second in AL Cy Young voting behind Gerrit Cole.
Between the three new Cardinals pitchers, Kenta Maeda and Aaron Nola, who returned to the Phillies, the starting pitching market below the top tier (Yamamoto, Montgomery, Snell) is the only market really moving in free agency.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will reportedly begin meeting with teams virtually this week after being posted last week, and there have been close to no rumors with other starters.
Other starting pitchers—a big area of need for the Mets—on the market include Eduardo Rodriguez, Shota Imanaga, Lucas Giolito, Jack Flaherty and former Mets Marcus Stroman, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo.
The Winter Meetings start next Monday, December 4, and the rumor mill should pick up as we near the commencement.
