As the 2025 World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers concludes, attention swiftly shifts to what promises to be an interesting offseason, particularly for the St. Louis Cardinals.
After another poor season, the Cardinals are set to chart a new course under Chaim Bloom, with a focus on the future rather than immediate success. One of the greatest changes they may make is to cut ways with veteran ace Sonny Gray.
Many teams will require starting pitchers this winter, including the American League champion Blue Jays, who will lose Max Scherzer to free agency. Perhaps the Cardinals might find a trading partner north of the border.
Blue Jays Are Logical Trade Fit for Sonny Gray
Gray completed 2025 with a 14-8 record, 4.28 ERA, and 201 strikeouts in 180⅔ innings in 32 starts. While he remains a valuable arm, his timeframe no longer coincides with the Cardinals’ rebuilding aspirations, making a trade both realistic and advantageous to both parties.
Moving Gray would provide much-needed payroll relief for the Cardinals while also opening up possibilities for younger pitchers to pursue rotation slots in 2026. It would also provide Bloom with greater financial freedom to seek low-cost free agents or trade acquisitions to stabilize the roster while maintaining a long-term focus on player development.
For the Blue Jays, however, acquiring Gray may be the ideal finishing touch to a rotation designed to win now. Toronto has been ambitious in recent offseasons, and Gray might be a proven veteran to help them compete for another American League title — and potentially a World Series championship in 2026.
While losing an ace like Gray would be disappointing, this sort of move is consistent with Bloom’s philosophy of reshaping the squad and prioritizing long-term success. With his no-trade clause, Sonny Gray will ultimately have discretion over where he goes, but a position with a contender like Toronto would certainly appeal to him as he seeks another crack at a title late in his career.
The Cardinals are anticipated to be active this winter, with Bloom looking to reorganize the squad, free salary space, and prepare the team for a new era of competition. Trading Gray might be the start of that shift, giving supporters a look of how the organization intends to rebuild in the future.