The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to leverage the experience and leadership of Sonny Gray while navigating a transitional phase within the organization. After initially considering trading the veteran pitcher to clear payroll, they now see him as a valuable asset for mentoring young talent such as Michael McGreevy and Andre Pallante. Newcomer Quinn Mathews has expressed excitement about learning from Gray, having impressed in the minors with strong stats, including an 8-5 record and a 2.76 ERA last season.

As the Cardinals gear up for the 2025 season, they remain hopeful that the combination of Gray's expertise and the promising abilities of their younger pitchers will solidify their rotation. While Gray and Erick Fedde are the only established pitchers, Mathews' performance during spring training could signal a brighter future for the Cardinals' starting lineup.