First Kenta Maeda and now Sonny Gray. The two starters who pitched for the Twins in 2023 will be logging innings for new clubs in 2024.
Maeda reportedly inked a two-year, $24 million deal with the Tigers on Sunday. And on Monday morning, reports are in saying Gray is expected to agree to terms with the Cardinals, with Jeff Passan of ESPN reporting that he received a three-year, $75 million deal.
Gray declined Minnesota’s qualifying offer that would’ve paid him $20 million in 2024.
Gray was outstanding for Minnesota this past season, finishing second in the AL CY Young vote behind unanimous Yankees winner Gerrit Cole.
The 33-year-old righty registered his third-highest innings pitched of his career with 184 innings. Gray notched the third lowest ERA in the majors this season (2.79) while striking out 183 batters. And he helped the Twins knock the Blue Jays out in the Wild Card round of the postseason before stumbling against the Astros.
Shortly after the season ended, Gray said he wanted to feel wanted, noting that he loved Minnesota.
“We want to go to a place where you feel wanted,” Gray said. “There are a lot of factors that go into those decisions. It’s not only me making it. As anyone who’s known me throughout the course of this year and last year, there are a lot of other things that go into it, my wife and my kids a big part of it. But I do love it here.”
With Gray and Maeda gone, Minnesota’s 2024 rotation includes Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Chris Paddack and Bailey Ober. How the Twins fill out the rotation is yet to be seen, but two possibilities include Louie Varland and Simeon Woods Richardson.
