Cardinals’ pitcher reveals he was close to rejoining the Cincinnati Reds during the offseason

Starting pitcher Sonny Gray of the St. Louis Cardinals recently shared insights on the “Foul Territory” podcast, revealing that he was close to rejoining the Cincinnati Reds during the offseason before ultimately signing a lucrative three-year, $75 million contract with the Cardinals in November. Gray disclosed that the Reds were the second choice in his decision-making process, with the Arizona Diamondbacks, reigning NL pennant-winners, also being among the final contenders for his services.

Gray, now 34, has traversed a notable journey in Major League Baseball. Originally a first-round draft pick by the Oakland Athletics in 2011, he made his major league debut with the team in 2013 and spent over four years in the Bay Area. Following a stint with the New York Yankees, Gray was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in January 2019.

His time with the Reds saw remarkable success during his debut season, earning his second All-Star selection with an impressive record of 11 wins and 8 losses, boasting a stellar 2.87 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and a career-best 205 strikeouts across 175.3 innings pitched.

However, Gray’s trajectory experienced a downturn in the following seasons, notably marked by a trade to the Minnesota Twins in March 2022 due to performance regression and a pectoral strain limiting his appearances. Despite these challenges, Gray showcased resilience, delivering a standout performance in the subsequent season, securing his third All-Star Game selection and narrowly missing out on the AL Cy Young Award with exceptional stats, including a 2.79 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 183 strikeouts over 184 innings pitched.

As Gray anticipates his role as the Cardinals’ potential top starter for the upcoming season, a recent hamstring injury during spring training casts uncertainty over his availability at the commencement of the regular season. In his absence, seasoned newcomers like Kyle Gibson or Lance Lynn may be called upon to lead the Cardinals’ pitching rotation, potentially stepping up to the challenge on Opening Day against the formidable Los Angeles Dodgers if Gray’s participation remains in question.