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Sonny Gray Headed For MRI After Early Exit; Tommy Edman May Not Be Ready For Opening Day

By Steve Adams | March 4, 2024 at 2:32pm CDT

Top Cardinals starter Sonny Gray exited today’s spring start with a trainer in the middle of an at-bat against Washington’s Nick Senzel. The team announced shortly afterward that Gray was experiencing tightness in his right hamstring. Gray declined to comment on the potential injury after exiting, instead stating that he wanted to talk to the team’s training staff and learn more about the issue before speaking with the media (link via Derrick Goold of the St.  Louis Post-Dispatch). Gray missed roughly a month of the 2022 season with a strain in that same right hamstring as a member of the Twins back in 2022. Goold further tweets that Gray is headed for an MRI to determine the severity of the issue.

An absence of any real note would be a nightmare scenario for the Cardinals. While the Cards overhauled their rotation this winter, Gray is the lone front-of-the-rotation arm the team brought in. Lance Lynn isn’t far removed from posting high-end results himself, but he’s 36 years old and coming off arguably the worst season of his career. He, like fellow mid-30s veteran Kyle Gibson, was signed more as a durable source of innings than to be a clear playoff-caliber starter.

Gray, 34, is fresh off a Cy Young runner-up finish in the American League. He pitched 184 innings of 2.79 ERA ball last season, fanning 24.3% of his opponents against a 7.3% walk rate. Gray’s 2.83 FIP was a near-identical match with his ERA, though metrics like xFIP and SIERA, which normalize home run rate, were more bearish and pegged him in the mid- to upper-3.00s. Gray’s 5.2% homer-to-flyball ratio was less than half the 12.3% career mark he carried into the 2023 campaign. The Cardinals signed him for three years and a total of $75MM back in November. He’s slated to be joined by Gibson, Lynn, Steven Matz and Miles Mikolas in one of the game’s oldest rotations.

Even if Gray can’t quite replicate his 2023 performance, he’s the clear top starter on that St. Louis staff. Were he to miss time, the drop-off between Gray and his replacement would be substantial. At present, the top options to step into the staff in his stead would presumably be lefties Matthew Liberatore, Zack Thompson and Drew Rom. Righties Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein are both on the 40-man roster as well, though neither has made his MLB debut yet.

The Cardinals, at least thus far, haven’t brought in any veteran big league starters on non-roster deals. That’s understandable, as most players open to that type of deal would take a look at the veteran rotation in St. Louis and see a lack of opportunity — but the lack of any proven depth could also be an issue in 2024, depending on how the rest of the staff holds up.

Gray isn’t the only key member of the Cardinals who’s facing some health-related uncertainty. Tommy Edman, formerly the team’s shortstop and now slated to serve as the Cardinals’ everyday center fielder, isn’t recovering from arthroscopic wrist surgery as swiftly as the team hoped. Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that “internal concern is growing” that Edman might not be ready for Opening Day. Edman still hasn’t been cleared to face live pitching, Woo writes, and despite the fact that Opening Day is just over three weeks away, there’s not even a timetable for when that might happen.

Fourth outfielder Dylan Carlson would step into the starting job in center field if Edman is on the injured list to begin the season, per the report. Lars Nootbaar played plenty of center field last season, but perhaps if the plan is for him to play left field regularly when Edman is healthy this season, the team simply wants Nootbaar getting as many reps in that position as possible. Carlson’s role as a fourth outfielder would be cycling through all three spots anyhow.

Edman, 28, had a disappointing 2023 at the plate while playing through pain in that now surgically-repaired wrist for much of the season. The versatile switch-hitter spent nearly a month of the ’23 season on the injured list due to inflammation in that wrist, and when he was healthy his output at the plate dropped from .265/.324/.400 in 2022 (106 wRC+) to just .248/.307/.399 in 2023 (92 wRC+).

In the event that Edman indeed requires a stint on the injured list to begin the season, that’d open up a spot on the bench for the Cards. That wouldn’t necessarily need to be an outfielder, as utilityman Brendan Donovan is no stranger to the outfield, and as previously noted, Nootbaar can handle center field work as well. That said, an outfielder would be the most logical candidate. Lefty-swinging Michael Siani and Alec Burleson are both on the 40-man roster already and both have minor league options remaining. Siani is regarded as a plus defender in center field and would offer premium speed off the bench, while Burleson would be limited to first base and the corners but give the Cards some power that the bench currently lacks.

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St. Louis Cardinals Dylan Carlson Sonny Gray Tommy Edman

Boras: New Teams Have Reached Out On Snell, Montgomery Since Spring Training Began
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U. L. Washington Passes Away
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64 Comments

  1. CityofChampions

    1 year ago

    Drew Rom shouldn’t be in consideration for anything but mop up duty

    1
    Reply
    • gbs42

      1 year ago

      He’s thrown 33.2 career innings in the majors. Prospects have been known to develop over time after early struggles.

      2
      Reply
  2. User 3014224641

    1 year ago

    Must be one of Boras’s mystery teams…

    5
    Reply
  3. Cedric.p.nelson

    1 year ago

    Go get snell or Montgomery u cheapskates

    4
    Reply
    • PuttPutt⁰³

      1 year ago

      Cheapskates?

      HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA

      You don’t know what it’s like to actually be a fan of a team that’s cheap in MLB.

      Seriously. Quit crying.

      6
      Reply
      • Fowlerrc

        1 year ago

        I mean, yeah, they’re not cheap compared to the A’s or Pirates, but the Cardinals are absolutely printing money, between attendance and merch and concessions. Not to mention Ballpark Village which gets filled up even in the offseason for Blues and STL City and Battlehawks games. They’ve just started leading luxury apartments downtown as a part of ballpark village. Realistically, they should be MUCH higher on the payroll list than they are, and I’m not even a Cards fan. Their offseasons and deadlines have been more than a little underwhelming for several seasons in a row.

        16
        Reply
        • Polymath

          1 year ago

          Most of those are completely separate profit centers.

          Reply
    • holecamels35

      1 year ago

      Give it a rest. They signed damn near an entire rotation and two of the best in the league at first and third. Keep spending more money!!! Cry more.

      Reply
      • mustache101

        1 year ago

        They spent money on old pitchers and a lot of money!!! One has already broke and the season hasn’t started!!! As far as your bats they where great but there old last year they both fell off there in there 30’s that window has closed

        3
        Reply
      • mustache101

        1 year ago

        When you shopped your “bats” last year not ONE team wanted them not ONE!!! You couldn’t give them away but you think there the best in the leugue maybe 5 years ago…. I think not today nobody wanted them…. Even if you bought out there contracts the rest of the league said no you can sit on them contracts they didn’t want them but now there 2 of the best players in the leugue get over yourself……

        1
        Reply
        • Cardsfan21

          1 year ago

          I see you’ve learned caps lock. Now let’s work on spell check.

          4
          Reply
        • Nuggethoarder

          1 year ago

          Perhaps the window on Arenado and Goldie is closing, but this is the result of spending money on FA/trades for long-term deals. You always pay for the decline phase unless the contract is a unicorn. You cannot complain about it. They have both been great pickups by the Cardinals.

          This year’s rotation was certainly paper thin on talent and could have used another top tier starter. Everyone knew it. Ownership did not release the funds

          1
          Reply
  4. baseballpun

    1 year ago

    I’m a Cardinals fan and this is hilarious.

    At least it’s a hammy and not an elbow or shoulder issue, I guess.

    Go sign Monty.

    13
    Reply
    • User 4014041831

      1 year ago

      I was thinking the same thing …better the injury is lower body instead of arm except sometimes pitchers unconsciously change their mechanics slightly
      MLB dot com had 2 videos from 2022 vs BOS and CLE where he had the same injury and had to leave the game.
      Is the problem some combination of hydration and not stretching enough and more issue
      StL badly needs him to be their ace in every sense of the word.

      Reply
      • baseballpun

        1 year ago

        Do you know how long he was out those times?

        Reply
        • User 4014041831

          1 year ago

          No I don’t – I would have to research that more.

          As a rough summary you could compare his total IP etc. over the years Sincerely hope it is a short stay on the IL. He might need an extended ST or some starts in AAA to be MLB ready.

          2
          Reply
      • Hammerin' Hank

        1 year ago

        It’s always amazing how these oft-injured players make it through their contract years unscathed, but inevitably start getting hurt again after signing their new contracts. Just like with Carlos Rodon and Aaron Judge last year. I’m waiting for the most obvious candidate this year, Eduardo Rodriguez, to pull something soon.

        Reply
  5. Niekro floater

    1 year ago

    It’s OK Cards fans Lance Lynn is here to save the day !

    7
    Reply
    • Bryzzo2016

      1 year ago

      LOL

      3
      Reply
    • stymeedone

      1 year ago

      I find it hard to believe that a FA starter would look at the Cards rotation and think there is no opportunity to crack it. Age, injury and lack of effectiveness can hit any staff, but the Cardinals definitely looked primed for depth opportunity.

      2
      Reply
    • Hammerin' Hank

      1 year ago

      With him and Kyle Gibson, what can go wrong??

      1
      Reply
      • Shady mapleworth

        1 year ago

        moe is terrible at extensions and signing free agents, how he is still employed is amazing

        1
        Reply
  6. uvmfiji

    1 year ago

    Edman was a legitimate trade chip for a starter. All of those lost at bats to players that wil rotate off the bench in those 5-3 losses.

    2
    Reply
    • SkipperLou

      1 year ago

      Now how are the Cards supposed to trade him for Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo…

      2
      Reply
  7. mostlytoasty

    1 year ago

    Unless Victor Scott II finishes ST hitting like .150, I’d almost say to just give him a shot at opening day CF and see how it goes. Plug him in the 9th spot and if he’s overmatched by the time Edman is healthy then it’s an easy option to AAA.

    His defense is already Gold Glove caliber, and if his bat is legit enough to be an everyday guy eventually… he’s got the speed to and baserunning acumen to lead the league in SBs year in and year out.

    I’m sure it won’t happen given Burleson being there, but Scott has the tools to be one of the league’s premier CFers sooner than later.

    5
    Reply
    • Slider_withcheese

      1 year ago

      No need to start his service time

      6
      Reply
      • mostlytoasty

        1 year ago

        he’s very likely up at some point this year, probably closer to Fall unless he’s just lights out at AAA for a few months. a 2-week stint or so in the MLB to start the season isn’t going to mess with his service time that much. it’s not some clock that just never stops running when he first debuts lol

        4
        Reply
  8. spudchukar

    1 year ago

    Almost certainly Gray won’t be ready for ready for the season opener. Internal options are limited although Thompson has impressed early. As if this news isn’t bad enough, the Cards offense is sputtering so far. Yes it is early, but to date, through 10 games they have zero home runs. That is 0, while many teams are in double digits, only the punchless Miami Marlins, are near with 2.

    1
    Reply
    • baseballpun

      1 year ago

      They hit pretty well last Spring and went in the toilet in-season, so I wouldn’t read too much into that.

      4
      Reply
    • Dotnet22

      1 year ago

      The sky is falling.

      2
      Reply
    • Slider_withcheese

      1 year ago

      How many of those 10 games did they roll out an entire 1-9 MLB lineup?

      3
      Reply
    • kripes-brewers

      1 year ago

      It’d be foolish to count the Cards out before Sept 15th, no matter how much we’d like to! Lol

      1
      Reply
  9. CardsFan57

    1 year ago

    The first month of the schedule is really tough. It will be much tougher without Gray.

    4
    Reply
  10. getrealgone2

    1 year ago

    LOLCardinals?

    3
    Reply
  11. Tom the ray fan

    1 year ago

    Better now than later

    1
    Reply
  12. filihok

    1 year ago

    That sucks

    2
    Reply
  13. spudchukar

    1 year ago

    Victor Scott is a viable alternative in center. Minor league Gold Glove, over 100 steals last year, with decent average.

    2
    Reply
    • DonOsbourne

      1 year ago

      We don’t KNOW Victor Scott is a viable alternative. Billy Hamilton played Gold Glove defense and could steal a hundred bags, but he wasn’t a viable ML centerfielder. So we HOPE Scott is ready. Like we hope Winn is ready. And I guess we hope Liberatore or Thompson is ready. Mo rolled the dice. We’ll see what happens.

      4
      Reply
      • SimbaHOF2019

        1 year ago

        What we do know is that he has elite speed and defense skills that wont disapear in the show. Also know that he can change the game on the basepaths. Most scouts believe his bat is for real. He is billy hamilton with a bat. he doesnt have to hit that much to be valuable.

        Reply
  14. tsouth22

    1 year ago

    Que And it’s gone South Park meme

    1
    Reply
  15. Dodgers2021 2

    1 year ago

    I predicted this not even 48 hours ago. The Cardinals way over payed for a guy that will pitch 500. I predict 10-10

    1
    Reply
    • Jonny5

      1 year ago

      They definitely live in your head, rent-free.

      6
      Reply
    • Slider_withcheese

      1 year ago

      Yes, because we all know judging a starting pitcher by his W/L record is relevant.

      9
      Reply
      • stymeedone

        1 year ago

        Yes, it is. If you want to see how relevent, look at the contracts for consistent 15 game winners.

        Reply
        • Hammerin' Hank

          1 year ago

          You guys are stuck in 1975. Nobody judges pitchers by their won/loss records anymore.

          Reply
    • filihok

      1 year ago

      Dodgers

      What did you predict?

      Also, teams win and lose games. Not individual pitchers

      1
      Reply
  16. wvsteve

    1 year ago

    Ouch

    Reply
  17. Cora the Destroya

    1 year ago

    It’s always Sonny in St. Louis.

    4
    Reply
  18. Old York

    1 year ago

    Unfortunate news. Hope they can recover from this and win the 2024 world series.

    Reply
  19. cubfanforever

    1 year ago

    Boras the vulture circling.

    Reply
    • DonOsbourne

      1 year ago

      I doubt Boras even bothers asking his lowest intern to reach out the Cardinals. They would happily lose 100 games before they went over budget.

      4
      Reply
      • Cora the Destroya

        1 year ago

        Oh, c’mon. Upset Cardinals fan watched is Cards with one bad season. Cards dominated all others and will again

        Reply
  20. LambchoP

    1 year ago

    Whew, I was wishing Twins would have re-signed Grey, now not so much…

    Reply
  21. Jeremy320

    1 year ago

    This is seriously one of the worst teams ever assembled. I think, we all sort of instinctually knew that.

    2
    Reply
  22. rememberthecoop

    1 year ago

    Of all their starters, this is easily the guy they can least afford to lose.

    Reply
  23. The Voices

    1 year ago

    Would rather have prime Greg Maddux

    Reply
  24. SupremeZeus

    1 year ago

    “You think there’s cocaine in that pool?” “Might be.”

    Reply
  25. JackStrawb

    1 year ago

    There’s not much more point to the Cards adding Monty now, than it would have been for the Mets to add Monty after they first learned of Senga’s injury.

    The Cardinals aren’t a serious postseason team—though admittedly they’re a little better than the Mets despite the antiquity of the good players on the Cards’ roster. Say the ST news (Gray, Edman) to date causes them to knock 1+ wins off their team projection. Why would you add 3 wins in the form of Monty when the likelihood is you’ll waste at least his first season with the team, and probably the second as you at the least regroup?

    1
    Reply
    • DonOsbourne

      1 year ago

      Because Monty is exactly what they need. A long-term piece for the starting rotation.

      1
      Reply
      • omahamadness

        1 year ago

        Ba-bam!!

        Reply
  26. Blue Baron

    1 year ago

    “Gray missed roughly a month of the 2022 season…as a member of the Twins back in 2022.”

    Notes from the Department of Redundancy Department.

    Are we certain he missed part of a season in the same year as that season?

    1
    Reply
    • stymeedone

      1 year ago

      Why mention the previous injury from 2 years ago? Its likely not relevant. If related, it would have surfaced earlier.

      Reply
      • Blue Baron

        1 year ago

        Don’t ask me. I didn’t write the piece.

        Reply
  27. DM_Nats

    1 year ago

    No clue how this cardinals team is favored to win the central lol

    1
    Reply

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