MLB Notebook: Cardinals open for business after Sonny Gray trade, Red Sox turn to offensive upgrades

For the Cardinals, meanwhile, trading Gray was expected after the 36-year-old pitcher hinted he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to facilitate an offseason deal with a contender — which he ultimately did. Both sides mutually decided it was time to part ways, officially initiating the rebuilding of the franchise under newly hired president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.

What’s next for both clubs this winter?

Cardinals are expected to continue selling

The Cardinals are also reportedly conducting trade searches for left-handed hitters Brendan Donovan, who is under club control through 2027, and Alec Burleson, who is under club control through ’28. But it will likely require a lucrative offer for the organization to part with either or both.

Other notable pieces that could be moved include left-handed reliever JoJo Romero (free agent after next season), outfielder Lars Nootbaar (free agent after ’27) and infielder Alec Burleson (free agent after ’28).

Red Sox focused on offensive additions after the gray trade

Acquiring Gray could be just the tip of the iceberg for the Red Sox brass.

However, Breslow also shared that most of the heavy lifting going forward will likely fall on the offensive front, as the team looks to bolster its lineup with a mid-range power bat — perhaps with someone like Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber, who spent half a season in Boston during the 2021 season.

Bringing back Alex Bregman remains a top priority for the Red Sox this season. But if they also land another big player in free agency, they may need to be subtracted from their current roster to stay under the third threshold of the $284 million luxury tax – to avoid any potential draft position penalties.