Trade rumors linking the New York Mets to Tarik Skubal have dominated headlines for much of the week. As arguably the best starting pitcher available via trade this offseason, the Detroit Tigers ace is set to be one of the most talked-about names throughout the winter.
No free agent matches his caliber, with Kyle Tucker—coming off a slightly down year—likely to be the most expensive name on the open market.
Still, there’s only one Skubal, and since Detroit plans to compete in 2026, they’ll need backup options if he’s moved. The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly shopping their top starter instead of paying him around $8 million, and another arm on the trade block could be acquired for much less.
MLB Trade Rumors recently examined possible trade fits for St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray, identifying the Mets as unlikely suitors while listing the Atlanta Braves among the top contenders.
Yep, there’s no chance the Mets trade for Sonny Gray
Gray’s contract is heavily backloaded, carrying a $35 million salary in 2026 and potentially another $30 million in 2027, with a $5 million buyout attached to a team option. Now nearing his 36th birthday in November, Gray remains a serviceable starter. He finished as the AL Cy Young runner-up in 2023 with the Minnesota Twins, though his two seasons in St. Louis have been more average than exceptional.
With the Cardinals, Gray has posted a 27–17 record and a 4.07 ERA. His 2.0 walks per nine innings and 10.5 strikeouts per nine are excellent, especially given how underwhelming his name might sound at first glance.
However, his rocky tenure with the New York Yankees still defines much of his reputation. During his only full season in New York in 2018, Gray struggled to a 4.90 ERA and even spent time in the bullpen, fueling the narrative that he’s more suited to smaller markets.
His best performances came with the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and Twins, while St. Louis has been somewhere in between—better than New York, but not elite.
The Atlanta Braves have a history of taking smart gambles on pitchers, such as the Chris Sale trade that paid off handsomely. Sale, once written off due to injuries and inconsistency in Boston, rebounded in Atlanta to win a Cy Young Award in his first season and make the All-Star team in his second.
If the Cardinals want to move Gray, they’ll likely need to absorb part of his salary to make a deal more appealing. Even then, several warning signs persist. Gray allowed a career-high 25 home runs last season, and his hard-hit rate climbed to 40.7%—his highest mark since his time in New York.
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