Sonny Gray Traded to Red Sox

[CardsofSTL]

Wow. We’ll be paying a lot of money for former players if Arenado gets moved. At least we’re not just holding on to hold on, though I think there was an argument in this case.

In Sonny's case I look at it as paying him what he was owed from his first two seasons. And they're saving 20 million off payroll which is good for two Kyle Gibsons.

[CardsofSTL]

Red Sox also reworked Gray's contract so he'll make 31 million in '26 instead of 35 but his mutual option buyout for '27 goes from 5 to 10 million.

[MrCrowesGarden]

Wow. We’ll be paying a lot of money for former players if Arenado gets moved. At least we’re not just holding on to hold on, though I think there was an argument in this case.

In Sonny's case I look at it as paying him what he was owed from his first two seasons. And they're saving 20 million off payroll which is good for two Kyle Gibsons.

It’s also money that wasn’t going to be spent in free agency so at least we bought a notable prospect

[a_smith]

I like that they ate $20mllion to buy some pitching prospects.

Sad to see Sonny go as I loved watching him pitch, but I want to watch the Cardinals compete for a WS--so bye bye Sonny.

[CardsofSTL]

I'm ecstatic about the new punning possibilities.

If the Dick Fitts…

Where do we think Dick fits into this rotation? Is he a back end type?

[phins]

I'll tell you true:

This is an exciting return and not just for the puns.

Fitts is a ready-made lefty who will probably struggle with long balls against righties, but he has a legit fastball. It's a 60 from him on velocity, but he can really command it. He has a hard, two-plane slider that will be difficult on lefties but needs to command it better to righties and backfoot the pitch more frequently. Doesn't really have a third pitch to my eyes, but I believe FanGraphs liked his changeup, if memory serves. I think he's a fastball heavy, command reliant starter who gets by on two pitches and will be a #4 starter as soon as next year.

Clarke is a good get and continues the overhauling of fastball ability for the Cardinals' farm system. A second lefty arm, he is a legit fastball pitcher again with a 60. I posted on here last year before the draft that the Cardinals might not have a 60 fastball in their entire org. from a starter. I could argue they now have four with Doyle, Tanner Franklin, Fitts, and Clarke.

The issue for Clarke is that he is maybe 50/50 to be a starter. His slider is great- arguably the best pitch in the system along with Doyle's fastball. That gives him a reliever floor that can be very good, but if he ever gets healthy and shows he can handle a full season, you've got the pieces of an All-Star starter. Athletic kid...really clean mover on the mound and a nice frame. His problem as a former Juco arm is he has never developed a third pitch (didn't need to before) nor fastball command (he just relied on arm strength). Can the Cardinals develop those things and keep him healthy? They're the reasons he was available as a top-100 type prospect who is near the majors as a reliever.

Losing Gray stinks. He's good. That said, it is a few years now of underperforming his peripherals in actual results and I kind of like actual results out of my 36 y/o starters. This is a trade that seems good for all parties involved and I'm excited to continue building out more fastballs in the org.

[MrCrowesGarden]

It should be noted neither Fitts nor Clarke were acquired by Bloom when he was with Boston. Easy assumption to make but they joined the organization after he left.

[CardsofSTL]

‘Richard Fitts has already begun his big league career, and with his power stuff and willingness to attack the strike zone, he has the ability to start games at the highest level for many years. Brandon Clarke is an exciting left-handed prospect whose ceiling rivals that of any pitcher in the minor leagues. Both have the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time, and we are happy to welcome them to the Cardinals.”

[heyzeus]

Seems like a good gamble to me. Thanks for your input, @phins , you know more about prospects than ANYONE and I appreciate your insights.

[cardsfantx]

Fitts is a ready-made lefty

he's a righty, just FYI