St. Louis, Missouri — A real earthquake is shaking the internals of the St. Louis Cardinals. As the team is expected to enter a strong rebuilding phase after two tumultuous seasons, the name that is shaking up the rumor mill right now is Sonny Gray — the $75 million star pitcher who was once considered the centerpiece of the Cardinals’ revival.
According to multiple reputable sources, the Cardinals are seriously considering parting ways with Gray — a decision that seemed impossible just over a year after they signed him to a blockbuster contract.
And if this information turns out to be true, this could be the end of the “win-now” era that the team once promised to fans.
The harsh truth is clear: the Cardinals are losing more than they win, their pitching is in poor form, key players like Arenado and Contreras are constantly injured, and the farm system has only a few bright names.
In that context, many experts believe that the team must rebuild, even completely rebuild, if it wants to escape the vicious cycle of average and weak.
And Sonny Gray — now 35 years old — suddenly becomes the most reasonable victim for a strong reset.
A source in NL Central commented:
“If the Cardinals really start over, they will not keep a veteran pitcher nearly 40 years old with a high salary. Gray still has value to bring in young assets. This is the time for them to act.”
When the Cardinals signed Sonny Gray to a three-year, $75 million contract, they confidently declared him the pillar of the pitching rotation, the one to lead the younger generation into a new competitive cycle.
But now the landscape has changed.
Gray is still excellent, still consistent, but the Cardinals are no longer competitive. And keeping an expensive ace on a rebuilding team defies modern baseball logic.
No wonder so many playoff contenders are asking for Gray. Several sources in the AL East and NL West have contacted the Cardinals since the beginning of the month.
A rival team executive shared:
“Gray is the type of pitcher who can instantly turn a good team into a playoff contender. The Cardinals know that.”
Notably, Sonny Gray has repeatedly emphasized that he chose the Cardinals because of culture, tradition, and the desire to end his career in an environment that respects pitchers.
He once said:
“I want to end my career in a place that values competition and loyalty. The Cardinals are that place.”
But now, things are becoming contradictory.
Some analysts are calling this a departure due to circumstances, not disappointment.
The Cardinals don’t want to “burn out” the final year of Gray’s career on a non-contending team; Gray deserves a postseason, too. And conversely, the Cardinals need young assets to build for the future.
Sonny Gray’s inclusion on the trade list is often a sign of a major overhaul — and could involve a number of other names:
Ryan Helsley (90% likely to be traded)
Brendan Donovan
Lars Nootbaar
Dylan Carlson
And if the Cardinals do make a big Gray trade, it would be the clearest statement yet that a new era has begun.
The Cardinals are at a crossroads: either cling to a glimmer of hope this season, or accept the reality and embark on a full-scale rebuild. Sonny Gray — once expected to be the cornerstone — is now the starting point for the overhaul.
And in this heavy atmosphere, fans can only wait and see:
Will the Cardinals choose the past, or choose the future?
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