Sonny Gray to the Redsox

[JohnnyMO]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

[Cranny]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

Look at the age differential.

[Cusecards]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Sounds like Leahy might get a look?
Mathews also?
I could certainly expect a FA vet on a one year deal.
Trades always possible.

[Cranny]

This was an excellent trade. SG is an older, declining pitcher. The Cardinals not only got rid of a big hunk of his salary, but they picked up a possible starter in the 2026 rotation along with a pitcher who may have the highest pitching ceiling in all the minor leagues (per Bloom).

[Southern Illinois]

it's a good trade....face value, early indications. I'm elated. Of course you grade much later (several seasons), but again, early indications, we did well here.

Watching vid on Clarke love seeing his 'crossfire ' motion and how he can throw it outside low and left hitter was swinging at air .

This team could have quite the lefty pitchers in a couple years ... Libby, Doyle, and Clarke With Doyle and Clark very high velocity types

LHP is our strength and it just got deeper....that's where we should trade from....not catcher (not yet, at least)

Yeah I wonder if Matthews could be on the move. Perhaps even packaged with Donny to get an absolute stud of a young player or with Arenado to get someone to take his salary. Not that adding Clarke has anything to do with it. But maybe this made such a thought process easier

If Mathews is moved, it will be exactly as I correctly analyzed months ago.
[/

[Vinegar Ben]

Cardinals had to kick in 20 mil. to get rid of Gray. Just wondering how much they will have to eat of Arenado's contract? Looks like a different face and name doing the dealing but same old fleecing of Cardinals like Mozeliak. All this is a dumping of money for the Dumwitts!

[Goldfan]

“2/3 of his starts over the last two seasons were made at Busch Stadium. The #STLCards felt the need to protect him because he was so vulnerable, and often so bad on the road.” Bernie M.

Best outcome him moving on……especially at his age
And he has a 7.40ERA at Fenway…..good luck Sonny

[renostl]

Cardinals had to kick in 20 mil. to get rid of Gray. Just wondering how much they will have to eat of Arenado's contract? Looks like a different face and name doing the dealing but same old fleecing of Cardinals like Mozeliak. All this is a dumping of money for the Dumwitts!

It was a terribly back loaded contract.
They essentially deferred money from 2024 when they only paid SG $10 million of the $75 million.
A very small group of teams if any would pay SG $40 million tp pitch in 2027 but that is exactly what the Cardinals were on the hook for. They paid $20. Got a couple pitchers we'll see what sticks. Finding a team to
Pay $20 million and give you their #5 and #12 prospects is fortunate..the Cardinals still may get a few more dollars in return or the old PTBNL. Very fortunate
with a chance to be a gem.

[JohnnyMO]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

Look at the age differential.

Not sure I’m following you. What are you trying to say?

[ecleme22]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

Pallante had the 2nd worst era of a cards starter in the last 30+ years w 30+ starts (Marquis, 2006). I’d say Fitts has a leg up…

[Cranny]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

Look at the age differential.

Not sure I’m following you. What are you trying to say?

The emphasis is on younger players. More room to grow, develop, and mature.

[JohnnyMO]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

Look at the age differential.

Not sure I’m following you. What are you trying to say?

The emphasis is on younger players. More room to grow, develop, and mature.

So you’re saying more likely youth than a vet? I agree, but Bloom has stated they will also look at possible vets for the rotation, so it wouldn’t surprise me

[stlbirdlover]

I think the Cards will probably be worse in 2026 than 2025!

[ggnoobs]

This is a great deal in my opinion. Fitts will be better than most people think. I wouldn't be surprised (if healthy) that Fitts puts up about equal numbers to Sonny in 2026.

PLUS a great pitching prospect.

PLUS shedding money.

I love it.

Fitts pitched 45 MLB innings with a 5 ERA and 1.3 WHIP last year. What makes you think he will pitch better than Gray?

So, Sonny is 36. Even just a 10% regression in 2026 puts his ERA at 4.71. Fitts will be 26, and you could reasonably expect a 10% improvement from him which would give him a 4.50 ERA.

Fitts "projected" ERA from Baseball Reference projections for 2026 is 4.17. Sonny's projection is 4.04. Not sure if that has been updated now that he is in the AL East. Anyhow, I just wouldn;t be surprised if they end up with similar numbers. But then again, Fitts hasn't proven anything, he could blow up.

[82birds]

I’ll defer to other posters...such as Duce....who are much more knowledgeable on prospects than I am.
Since the Option on Gray for 2027 would not be picked up it makes total sense to move him now.
Rotation:
Libby
McGreevey
then???
Sounds like Leahy might be in the picture?
Pallante possible but I see him to the BP.
Mathews certainly gets a look in ST.
With more moves to follow(Arenado?) that will save some $$ I would expect Bloom to sign a vet for the rotation(maybe two?) on a one year deal.

Should be an interesting Hot Stove Season.

BTW- If Bloom signs Mikolas as the one year vet I expect CT to implode from within.

fitts is likely in the rotation id think

After doing more reading up on him I agree.

McGreevy, Liberatore, and Fitts. Two more holes to fill via trades.

Fitts is a possibility but isnt a guaranteed starter anymore than Pallante or Leahy. From listening to Bloom - I’m expecting there to be 7-9 potential starters going into Spring with only Lib, McGreevy, and potentially a to be acquired vet having guaranteed a spot.

I certainly hope Pallante has no guaranteed spot.
If he does, it certainly wasn't earned.

[82birds]

I think the Cards will probably be worse in 2026 than 2025!

certainly a possibility.
might be a more fun team to watch though, depending on results of the offseason.