FREE AGENT SIGNING: Sonny Gray Heads Back To NL

After his 3rd All-Star season, and a 2nd-place finish in AL Cy Young balloting, Sonny Gray is cashing in on the free agent market, with a $75M deal to move back to the National League, joining the St. Louis Cardinals.

Free-agent RHP Sonny Gray finalizing three-year, $75M contract with Cardinals, source tells @TheAthletic. First with expected agreement: @JonHeyman.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 27, 2023

It's a three-year deal for the 11-year veteran, which will take him through his age-38 season. For the Minnesota Twins last season, Gray posted a 2.79 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and gave up the fewest home runs per nine of any starter in all of baseball—just eight in 184 innings (0.4 HR/9). 

The Cardinals have been desperate to rebuild their starting rotation after a disastrous season. They started this winter by signing two 36-year-olds in Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson, and now have added a 35-year-old. But unlike the aforementioned two, Gray brings a stellar resume from 2023. And in his 11 seasons with the Oakland A's, NY Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and the Twins, Gray is 98-85 with a 3.47 ERA.

Miles Mikolas, also 35, and Steven Matz, 32 are the other expected Cardinals starters for 2024, giving them undoubtedly the oldest rotation in baseball. 

Because the Twins made Gray a qualifying offer, they will now receive a comp pick in next year's MLB Draft, while St. Louis would forfeit its 2nd-round pick and lose $500K from its international bonus pool.

Photo: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports