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On Monday morning, we learned that free agent pitcher Sonny Gray was signing a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.
By Monday afternoon, we learned that the deal is for three years and $75 million.
But we also learned an additional, previously unreported detail: The contract includes an option for the 2027 season.
Per the team on social media:
Forecast: Sunny
We have signed 2023 AL Cy Young finalist Sonny Gray to a three-year contract that includes a club option for 2027!
Forecast: ☀️
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) November 27, 2023
We have signed 2023 AL Cy Young finalist Sonny Gray to a three-year contract that includes a club option for 2027! #STLCards pic.twitter.com/YBn5EWETmL
That's a big additional addendum as Gray gets a chance at a potential fourth year of big money while the Cardinals have a chance to lock down Gray for a fourth year if he's still pitching well.
Derrick Goold, Cardinals' reporter, had the information on the value:
Club option for 2027 is worth $30 million, has $5 million buyout. He can make $100 million over four with the total contract, per a source. #stlcards
More news to follow …
Club option for 2027 is worth $30 million, has $5 million buyout. He can make $100 million over four with the total contract, per a source. #stlcards
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) November 27, 2023
More news to follow … https://t.co/8W4ckLg3o1
He's coming off an excellent year in Minnesota in which he was just named an American League Cy Young finalist. The 33-year-old went 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA and helped the Twins win the American League Central. They also won a playoff series, beating the Toronto Blue Jays in the wild card round.
Gray just finished his 11th season in the big leagues with the A's, Yankees, Reds and Twins. He's 98-85 lifetime with a 3.47 ERA. He is a three-time All-Star.
Because the Twins extended Gray a qualifying offer this winter, the Cardinals will be forced to give the Twins a draft pick as compensation for signing him away.
In addition to Gray, the Cardinals have also signed veterans Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson to contracts.
They finished last in the National League Central this season.
More must-reads:
- Guardians executive opens up about Emmanuel Clase investigation, what comes next
- Nationals suffer brutal blow with pitching prospect set to undergo Tommy John surgery
- The 'MLB mascot names' quiz
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