Sonny Gray during his introductory press conference with the Cardinals: ‘You want to talk about someone who takes the ball and has an edge? You’ll see it’
New St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray was introduced to the media on Monday afternoon. The veteran right-hander signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the potential to exceed $105 million.
Gray has a team option for 2027 valued at $30 million, per David Carson of the Post-Dispatch.
The new Cardinals righty will lead their rotation, which also features free agent additions Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson.
“Mo was saying ‘pitching, pitching, pitching’ — pitching is something that I love to do,” Gray said. “Winning is something that I love to do. Creating a pitching culture, working with other pitchers on a staff, pushing each individual pitcher on a staff to get better, and that is something that I truly, truly enjoy. You want to talk about changing a pitching culture or creating and establishing a strong pitching culture, I think you bring in Lance, you bring in Kyle, you bring in me — you want to talk about creating an edge? Having some intent and some fire to the guys who take the ball? You’re definitely doing that.
“You want to talk about someone who takes the ball and has an edge? You’ll see it.”
The Cardinals were hoping to add three starters this offseason and completely retool the rotation needing veteran innings eaters. Cardinals’ president of baseball operations did just that with the additions of Gray, Lynn and Gibson.
"We were hoping to sign a couple of pitchers we knew we could count on for innings," Mozeliak said to reporters, "and if we could accomplish that, we were hoping we could do something a little bigger, a little longer, and obviously that's where Sonny fits in."
Gray will wear No. 54, which is his way to pay homage to Bob Gibson, who wore 45. “Bob Gibson,” Gray said. “Flipped around.”
The new Cards ace wants to win and carry on the tradition of playing in St. Louis.
"Where I am in my career," Gray said. "I want to win. I'm coming to an organization like St. Louis -- the tradition, just walking in here this morning, walking around seeing everything -- the history is there. The feel is there. It's just a baseball town and city and a place that I'm thrilled to be able to come and be part of it."
The 34-year-old enjoyed a strong season with the Twins last year, posting a 2.79 ERA, his best mark since 2015 when he owned a 2.73 ERA. He made 32 starts, the most since 2014 when he tossed 219 frames. Gray also was the runner up to AL Cy Young award winner Gerrit Cole.
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