Sonny Gray finds himself in an unexpected position heading into the 2025 MLB season. After joining the St. Louis Cardinals as a marquee free-agent signing following the 2023 season, the veteran right-hander is now navigating a team focused on developing young talent amidst payroll reductions and the departure of key players like Paul Goldschmidt.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak -- a veteran team-builder who has regularly used the offseason to add difference-making talents such as Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray to try and chase a championship -- oddly saw this winter slow to a crawl.

Coming off an up-and-down first season with the St. Louis Cardinals, Sonny Gray stood firm on remaining part of the organization, even as the Cardinals navigate the early stages of a cost-cutting, roster-shaking reset.