Uncertainty surrounds St. Louis as the Cardinals’ playoff hopes fade.
With Chaim Bloom set to take over as President of Baseball Operations, the franchise faces questions about its future direction. One possible storyline involves veteran starter Sonny Gray — a three-time All-Star with a no-trade clause who could still be moved in an offseason deal.
Should the Cardinals trade Gray?
The 35-year-old right-hander is under contract for one more season, with a club option for 2027 that carries a $5 million buyout. He’s slated to earn $35 million in 2026.
Although he holds a no-trade clause, Gray could be open to a move if it meant joining a contender. Still, he remains a veteran presence on a roster dominated by young arms.
So what’s the best path forward for St. Louis? Writing in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lynn Worthy argues the Cardinals would benefit from keeping Gray around as a steadying force while their prospects continue to grow.
“Perhaps it’s worth it to have Gray stay put, provide certainty in the rotation, a potential trade chip next summer and a security blanket that lets the organization proceed deliberately with the development of its internal starting options,” Worthy noted.
Even financially, trading him may not provide much relief, as St. Louis could still be on the hook for part of his deal.
The situation gets trickier with Miles Mikolas approaching free agency this offseason. If he departs, the burden falls even more heavily on younger pitchers like Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, and Matthew Liberatore—who already appears to be wearing down under a heavier workload.
It’s a challenging call, and one that Chaim Bloom will ultimately have to make.
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