Sonny Gray may have already signaled that he wants to keep pitching in 2027, but his next move could come down to more than just baseball. According to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, some people within the game believe Gray would prefer to stay closer to his family in Tennessee, and that makes the Cardinals a possible fit.
St. Louis has already shown a willingness to target pitchers with local ties, and Gray fits that mold.
The Cardinals have brought in several area arms in recent years, including Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Ryne Stanek, and they added Gray in 2024. A reunion three years later would line up with that pattern, though the circumstances around Gray and the club are very different now.
Gray’s 2026 season in Boston was a major bounce-back. He posted a 2.72 ERA and could draw Cy Young Award votes after that resurgence.
His numbers with the Cardinals told a much flatter story: a 4.07 ERA and a 100 ERA+, which made him an average pitcher in St. Louis.
He was steady, but not quite the rotation force the Cardinals hoped for when they got him.
Still, a return to St. Louis would offer appeal on both sides.
Gray could potentially finish his career where he has local ties, and the Cardinals could add a veteran arm with real credibility. If his 2026 rebound holds up, he could also help them get into the postseason in 2027, even if that remains a narrow path.
The bigger question is whether Gray would choose a team that still profiles as only a fringe contender. The Cardinals are not the same club they were when they acquired him before the 2024 season.
Back then, former president of baseball operations John Mozeliak filled the roster with veterans, and seven players on that team were older than Gray. In 2027, Gray would be 37 and would be the oldest player on the roster unless the Cardinals add someone even older.
That shift matters. The 2026 Cardinals were one of the youngest teams in the league, and Gray could serve as a veteran voice for a young pitching group if he came back. His presence could also affect the roster shape, potentially pushing Matthew Liberatore into the bullpen, where he has historically been better than he has as a starter.
Money could be the biggest obstacle. If Gray and the Red Sox do not exercise the mutual option, he could cost more than St.
Louis wants to spend on a top-end starter. New president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has already said the club is likely still at least two years away from true contention, and he has spoken about how the sport tends to punish teams that stray from their plan.
A hometown discount is possible, but the Braves may have the stronger hand if Gray is looking for both geography and a chance to win. Atlanta is the closest team to Tennessee and remains in a competitive window, which could make it a more appealing landing spot than St. Louis.
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