Reds reunion hopes rest on Cardinals' willingness to do the unthinkable

The St. Louis Cardinals seem willing to cut a deal, and the thrifty Cincinnati Reds may be the beneficiaries. Veteran pitcher Sonny Gray, once the Reds’ ace, has been on the team’s wishlist at least since he signed with St. Louis prior to the 2024 season. The Cardinals have indicated recently that they may be willing to eat some of Gray’s $35 million salary, which could open the door to a reunion.

The first sign of hope came in the final week of the season when Gray mentioned that he would consider waiving his no-trade clause. The right-hander noted his age (he’ll be 36 on Opening Day) and the uncertainty of his future as reasons for his willingness to move clubs. The Cardinals are far from postseason contention, so if Gray is looking to make an October run in the waning years of his career, the Reds may be on his short list.

Reunion between the Reds and Sonny Gray may be possible if the Cardinals retain some of the pitcher’s massive salary

The Reds, though, are certain to balk at paying Gray the entirety of his $35 million salary in 2026. The highest paid player currently under contract for next season is Hunter Greene, who will make just $8.3 million. Nick Martinez’s $21 million salary, a result of the qualifying offer the Reds extended to him, blew fans’ minds, so paying Gray nearly double that amount might just make the fanbase implode.

It’s uncertain just how much the Cardinals would retain. A payday in the realm of $20 million seems more than fair for a former Cy Young runner-up and three-time All-Star who eats innings. Gray would also bring veteran leadership to a rotation filled with players still shy of their 30th birthday. Those kinds of intangibles can be worth just as much as the performance on the field.

On the other hand, the Reds’ rotation is already bloated. There are at least 10 pitchers with a legitimate shot at a starting job, and Greene, Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott are locks if healthy. Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Petty will be left to scrap for the fifth spot. Julian Aguiar could get in the mix, too, when he returns from Tommy John surgery. Throwing Gray into the rotation may undermine the Reds’ development of their young starters.

The Cardinals’ willingness to deal Gray this winter may end up being the right player at the wrong time for the Reds. When Cincinnati pursued this reunion in the past, the starting rotation was full of question marks. In 2025, Abbott, Lodolo, and others resolved all those lingering doubts. In 2026, Gray may be the player that the Reds want, but not the one they need right now.