The St. Louis Cardinals were the subject of plenty of trade rumors at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. While they only dealt three relievers on expiring deals, the Cardinals could turn to the offseason for more action.
Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller predicts that Cardinals ace Sonny Gray is one of two pitchers most likely to be traded in the offseason. A big reason why he could be on the move is thanks to their new president of baseball operations.
"The Cardinals are turning over a new leaf with their transition from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom calling the shots," Miller writes, "and they want to clear the deck and start over fresh with eyes on the future instead of these expensive relics of the past."
Chaim Bloom is taking over for John Mozeliak, and with a new president of baseball operations comes more changes for the rest of the roster. While Bloom could hold onto Gray, the potential for a strong offer might be too much to pass on.
However, with Gray's full no-trade clause, any deal would have to be run by the Cardinals veteran. With Gray already expressing his desire not to be dealt in the season, convincing him to waive it might prove difficult.
But if Bloom can get Gray to waive the no-trade clause, then the Cardinals would likely pounce on the chance to trade him. The 35-year-old right-handed starter has just one year left on his deal at $35 million, with a $30 million club option for 2027.
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Instead of letting his contract run out, regardless of whether they pick up the option or not, the Cardinals should consider moving on from Gray while they can.
Teams around baseball would have interest in him, as starters of his caliber rarely become available, especially with more than one year of control.
His massive contract might deter some teams from making a trade or offering a big package, but the Cardinals would still have some teams making the call to see if they can add the veteran right-hander to their rotation.
In 2025, his 13th season, Gray had a 4.30 ERA in 25 starts. His 97 ERA+ is the first time he's been a below league-average pitcher since 2018. In the six seasons between these two below-average seasons, Gray had an ERA+ of 132.
While Gray will cost a lot, and they also won't ship him off for a weak package, the Cardinals will have some teams interested in the veteran starter. A trade isn't very likely, but with the regime change, it's one to watch as Bloom takes over the front office in St. Louis.
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