St. Louis — MLB news rocked the early offseason: Sonny Gray, the veteran pitcher and Cardinals mainstay for the past two seasons, was traded to the Red Sox on November 25, 2025.
But immediately after the trade was completed, Gray did not stay silent — he sent a thank you note to the Cardinals community, sending fans into a tizzy.
In his message to fans, Gray expressed his deep gratitude for “every pitch, every game, every cheer under Busch Stadium” he had during his two seasons with the Cardinals. He called it his “family,” the place where he “played with his heart, sweat, and tears.” Many fans watched Gray’s video message and couldn’t hold back tears — from regret, from gratitude, and from the way a professional player truly appreciates the love his fans have for him.
Sonny Gray came to the Cardinals hoping to finish his career with a team that has ambitions — and he lived up to that promise. In 2024–2025, Gray became the first Cardinals pitcher in years to break the 200 strikeout mark — 203 in 2024, then 201 in 2025.
Even though the team didn’t make the playoffs, Gray remained consistent: in 2025, he went 14–8 with a 4.28 ERA and over 180⅔ innings pitched — numbers that put him among the most reliable pitchers in the NL.
But more than anything — to Cardinals fans — Gray is more than just a number or a name on a roster. He is the epitome of tenacity, of responsibility, of a pitcher who is not afraid of challenges, even when the dust of the road is scandal, decline, injury or public pressure is surrounding him.
In his message, Gray shared that he knew “many people in the warm-up room were in tears when they heard the trade news” — fans, young players and staff. He felt he owed a debt of gratitude and decided to keep a portion of his new contract to send back to St. Louis — to a community fund, as a mark to say: “I never viewed my time with the Cardinals as just a job — it was my heart.”
This touched not only fans but also the entire MLB community. In an era where contracts, bonuses, trades, buyouts are constantly appearing — but sincere and public gratitude — is as rare as a gem. Gray chose to give back, rather than keep silent.
Many Cardinals fans initially expressed disappointment and anger with the front office. But after Gray’s tribute video, many people changed their minds. One fan on Reddit wrote:
“Even though you’re gone, the love and memories you left behind will never be taken away. Thank you, Sonny — for giving us a memorable season.”
Many others wished Gray luck in Boston — but perhaps most of the emotion was nostalgia. Some fans cried, not because they lost a player, but because they knew a beautiful chapter had just ended, leaving behind unforgettable memories.
With this trade, the Red Sox will have an experienced pitcher to strengthen their rotation, and the Cardinals will receive two young pitchers (Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts) in their rebuild.
But whatever the future holds, Gray’s tribute — to Cardinals fans — shows one thing: the love of baseball, the love of fans, and the memories — are forever, not measured by ERA or strikeouts.
And for many Cardinals fans, Gray remains a name that is mentioned with pride — a player who played, who contributed, and who had the courage to say thank you when he left.
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