Is Sonny Gray the next Reds player to go?

The Cincinnati Reds have been relatively busy this offseason to say the least. Is Sonny Gray the next to go?

The Reds traded away fan-favorite Tucker Barnhart and lost Wade Miley to waivers, Let's not forget that Nick Castellanos also declined his player option, which was no surprise to anyone.

Is Sonny Gray the next Reds player to go?

Sonny Gray is slated to make $10.2M next season and has a $12M club-option for the 2023 season. If the Reds want to move on from Gray, this would be the offseason to do so.

If the Reds have hopes of contending next season, trading Gray is no the answer. Despite starting only 26 games last season due to injuries, Gray put up solid stats.

The right-hander was 7-9 over 135.1 innings of work with a 4.19 ERA, but a 3.24 xERA and 3.99 FIP.

Despite losing Wade Miley to the Chicago Cubs, the Cincinnati Reds rotation still consists of Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, and Vladimir Gutierrez.

If Gray can capture his 2019 form, he could conceivably be the ace of next year's squad. Gray was an All-Star that season, posting a 2.87 ERA with an 11-8 record. The Nashville native finished seventh in Cy Young voting.

Gray still managed to strikeout 155 batters and post a10.3 K/9 and a 27% strikeout-rate. All things considered, Gray can strike guys out in bunches.

While next year is Sonny Gray's age-32 season, the Vanderbilt alum still has a lot of gas left in the tank. The $10.2M that Gray is owed next season shouldn't be a reason for the Reds to trade him.

The Cincinnati Reds need Sonny Gray more than ever if they hope to put together any semblance of a playoff-contending team in 2022.

If the Reds and Gray part ways, it could spell a long season for the team and the fans in Cincinnati. Gray could be the guy to lead the Reds rotation next season.