The St. Louis Cardinals are officially out of the postseason race after being sellers at the MLB trade deadline and giving younger talent more opportunities in the final months of the season.
Some of the Cardinals' veteran talent appears uneasy with the team's direction. Third baseman Nolan Arenado has already advised that he's preparing to move on.
That leaves questions about the future of St. Louis' highest-paid player, ace pitcher Sonny Gray.
Sonny Gray: 'I don't know what the future holds for me'
After signing a three-year, $75 million deal with the Cardinals in 2023, the expectation for Sonny Gray was to play on a team that would be contending for World Series titles. So far through two seasons, this isn't the case.
Gray, 35, was still able to put together a semi-productive season (14-8 record, 4.28 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), but St. Louis has yet to make the postseason since acquiring the three-time All-Star.
After officially losing their playoff chances, Gray mentioned that "he must consider waiving his no-trade clause this winter."
“I think I do, just to be frank and to be honest,” Gray said, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I definitely think I do. Whether I do decide that I want to go somewhere – whether that actually happens – I don’t have complete control of that. Obviously, I have control of where I can’t go or don’t go. I’m going to be 36. It’s going to be my 14th season. Last year of my contract for this. I don’t know what the future holds for me."
MORE: Cardinals' Nolan Arenado sparks speculation on future with team
Gray also said he knows what to expect from the Cardinals organization while they transition from John Mozeliak to Chaim Bloom as president of baseball operations.
As the offseason approaches, St. Louis faces several unanswered questions. Recent developments suggest the Cardinals are on the verge of losing multiple veterans, signaling the end of an era that was brief but significant in the franchise's history.