2 Top Suitors Named For Free Agent Sonny Gray

Even though he's a 3-time All-Star, Sonny Gray had a career year for the Minnesota Twins in his 11th major league season. A 2.79 ERA and a second-place finish in the AL Cy Young Award balloting. And it couldn't have come at a better time, as he heads into free agency as a starting pitcher in demand. 

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman this week, two National League teams have emerged as prime candidates for the 34-year-old right-hander. 

Atlanta Braves

The Braves, we've also learned this weekend, had tried their darndest to land Aaron Nola this month, but the 9-year veteran decided to turn down more money from the Braves to re-sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. So they're now turning their efforts to other premium arms on the free agent market, and Gray falls into the second tier of top starters, a nice fallback for any team unable to land Blake Snell or Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The Braves are looking for another showcase arm to join Spencer Strider and Max Fried in their rotation.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cards are looking for as much pitching help as they can get this offseason. Their desperation showed with the additions of long-in-the-tooth starters Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson for the back end of their rotation. But they're still hoping for a more premier arm, and Gray is one of the targets. 

The 34-year-old is familar with the NL Central, having pitched for the Cincinnati Reds for three seasons before going to Minnesota.

Baseball Insider and former MLB GM Jim Bowden says the Cards will be spending big this offseason. 

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