Every year, or at least every year since 2012, we’ve taken some time after the season was over to look at the past 162 games through the lens of the players that played them (and the management that was in charge of them). Last year, the Exit Interview series spent less time digging into splits and finding numerical oddities and more time reflecting on the player and their season. It was a style that seemed to work so we’re going to bring it back again this year. The legendary cardinalsgifs is back to bring us excellent series art, so it’s all downhill after you see that!
Player: Sonny Gray
Stats: 13-9, 28 G, 166.1 IP, 142 H, 21 HR, 39 BB, 203 K, 3.84 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 1.088 WHIP, 1.8 bWAR
Statcast: 8.9% barrel, 38.1% sweet spot, 113.5 max exit velocity, .292 wOBA, .301 xwOBA, 30.3 K%, 5.8 BB%
Grade: B
Gray was the pièce de résistance of the Cardinals pitching overhaul that took place around Thanksgiving last year. One of the biggest pitchers out on the market, he wanted to come to St. Louis due to its history and its proximity to his home in Nashville. That worked for the Cards, who really needed an ace at the top of their rotation. For the most part, Gray delivered on that promise. He started the year on the injured list but had a 0.89 ERA after five starts and everything was just hunky-dory. Then the wheels came off with a 5.40 ERA in his next five and fans starting to scratch their heads on which pitcher was the real Sonny Gray.
In nine of his 28 starts he did allow four or more earned runs, but he brought a strikeout game that the Cardinals hadn’t seen in quite some time. When he was clicking, it was really really good, but it seemed like you only got 2-3 of the starts before another clunker arose. He finished the year on the IL, though with a condition mild enough for him to pitch if the games had meant anything. All in all, it was an uneven but ultimately rewarding first year in St. Louis for the veteran.
What’s in store for 2025: Going into the winter, it was possible the first year was the only year in Cardinal red. With the change in focus for the organization from competing to development, John Mozeliak promised to have a conversation with Gray and see whether he wanted to stay or go. Given the non-monetary issues around his signing, my guess was that he’d be fine staying and trying to help the team’s time in the wilderness be a little shorter and, indeed, that has turned out to be the case. Barring some sort of significant change of heart, Gray will be the Opening Day starter in 2025.
