Reds insider hints at reunion with ex-favorite (but not who fans are expecting)

Cincinnati Reds fans are waiting with bated breath and hoping for a reunion with former third baseman Eugenio Suárez. While there's said to be mutual interest between both the Reds and the Arizona Diamondbacks to get a deal done, a fierce bidding war is underway for Suárez's services with just over 24 hours remaining until the trade deadline passes.

But another former Reds player has entered the chat. According to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon, the Reds could look to trade for St. Louis Cardinals starter Sonny Gray. The former All-Star spent four seasons in Cincinnati before being traded to the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2022 season.

There's certainly merit to the idea of a Reds-Gray reunion. Cincinnati could use an extra arm in the rotation and then move one of Nick Martinez or Chase Burns to the bullpen. Once Hunter Greene returns from the IL, it's conceivable that both right-handers could be moved to the bullpen if the Reds were to acquire Gray at the trade deadline.

Reds insider hints at reunion with former fan-favorite Sonny Gray

There would be some hurdles when it comes to pulling off a trade for Gray. The first of which is his no-trade clause. The Cardinals' hurler the ability to void any trade, and threatened to do so earlier this year when St. Louis was trying to sell off assets before the season began.

There's also the gigantic salary that Gray is owed. The right-hander is under contract through next season and is owed $30 million in 2026. Gray's deal also contains a $30 million club-option for 2027 with a $5 million buyout. If the Reds traded for Gray, they'd be taking on the remainder of his 2025 salary, plus at least $35 million more. Of course, the Cardinals could chip in and offer the Reds cash considerations as part of any deal.

The Reds were linked to Gray back during the 2023-24 offseason before he signed on with the Cardinals, so there's obviously some level of interest between the two sides. St. Louis is effectively looking to rebuild, and shedding Gray's salary would go a long way toward helping them do just that.

This will be an intriguing name to watch at the deadline, and certainly wouldn't cost Cincinnati a lot in terms of prospect capital. While adding Suárez should take precedence over a reunion with Gray, it's hard to imagine too many fans would be upset if both players returned at this year's trade deadline.

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