It looked like Sonny Gray might just be packing his bags again! The St. Louis Cardinals, who just wrapped a sad 78-84 season, are staring down another long winter of making rather tough decisions. With Chaim Bloom steering the ship as the new head of baseball operations, the franchise seems ready to hit the reset button. And it seems like Gray’s name is the one atop the trade buzz.

The 35-year-old right-hander posted a 4.28 ERA in 32 starts this season. And very quietly, he has remained one of baseball’s most consistent arms. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 26.7% to 5.0% and sixth-best SIERA among qualified starters show that there is plenty of gas left in the tank.

However, with the Cardinals inching towards a rebuild, moving Gray and his contract, which is a hefty $35 million 2026 salary, could be the first thing to fall. And MLB Trade Rumors’ Nick Deeds lists two teams, which seem like a possible landing spot for him.

The first team, Nick Deeds, lists Atlanta as the top pick for Gray, saying, “One of the clear best fits for Gray’s services is Atlanta, who were reportedly in on Gray when he was a free agent two offseasons ago. Since then, the Braves have struggled to stay healthy and even fell out of the playoff picture this year due in large part to a rotation that was desperately missing Max Fried’s stabilizing presence after he left for the Yankees last winter.” This fit makes a whole lot of sense, since the Braves right now need rotation depth, and Gray offers that to them. Plus, Atlanta’s proximity to his Nashville home could make the move rather appealing on a personal level. Plus, with Alex Anthopoulos comfortable in bringing short-term veterans, Gray could fit in the picture perfectly.

Deeds also pointed to the San Francisco Giants as the natural suitor. “The Giants are going to need more than just Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Landen Roupp in their rotation next year, and Gray would make plenty of sense for that role. Gray was actually connected to San Francisco back in September as a potential trade target. Some of that report was based on Gray’s connection with former Giants manager Bob Melvin, who has since been fired.”

This scenario also fits, and the San Francisco Giants have a rotation gap to fill, a budget that can handle Gray’s contract, and the familiarity with the Bay Area that could make the adjustment smoother. Gray, being a veteran, could help strengthen the staff, who require stability. And he can also give the Giants a short-term solution while they develop their younger arms.

Could Sonny Gray really return to the A’s? 

The veteran right-hander is signed through 2026, but with the Cardinals’ focus on rebuilding, Sonny Gray could be headed elsewhere for sure. Sure, the names above are a possibility, but there is one other team he could head to, and that’s his previous team—the Oakland A’s. The biggest issue, though, is that massive $35 million salary that he is still owed in 2026. It’s a lot for a small-market club like the Oakland A’s. But there is a solution.

The only way seems to be if the St. Louis Cardinals agree to eat some of that contract—only then, a reunion could be on the table. The A’s are starting to turn the corner and aiming for a postseason push next season, and hence Gray could bring both leadership and stability to their young rotation. But there is another big question—would Gray want to go back?

So, Gray has a full no-trade clause, meaning he has full control of where he lands. It comes down to two things: how happy he is right now in St. Louis and how much he wants to pitch in October again. If chasing wins matters more, then returning to the A’s might make all sense, given their roster shaping up to compete sooner rather than later. Plus, there is that nostalgia matter at play, given Sonny Gray pitched for the A’s from 2013 to 2017, and he has several fans from Oakland. Still, the logistics get tricky, and A’s likely wouldn’t want to give up top prospects for a one-year rental. But if the Cardinals are ready to cover a chunk of the salary and accept maybe lower-tier prospects, then this could work for both ends.