The Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates all had distinct offseasons and made significant transactions at different stages. The Cardinals were aggressive in free agency, signing three starting pitchers. Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Lance Lynn were the three pitchers who signed.
Starting pitching was a weakness for St. Louis in 2023. Concerns about new catcher Willson and the pitching staff were raised, but president of baseball operations John Mozeliak eventually committed to bring in at least three new starters during the offseason. He kept that promise by signing Gray, Gibson, and Lynn, with Gary previously named as his opening-day starter for the 2024 season.
Gray was removed from a spring training game on Monday after tugging on the back of his right leg. An MRI later revealed a hamstring injury that is currently classified as mild. Mozeliak declined to provide a timetable for the injury, but did add that “this is something that is going to slow Gray down” and that it will be difficult for him to be ready by opening day. He does not anticipate this to last long.
Sonny Gray is likely to spend time on the disabled list, but Cardinals reporter Katie Woo of The Athletic believes a more accurate timeline will be available three to five days following the injury date. The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals will meet for the first time on April 19, 2024. Even if his hamstring has healed by then, he may not be ready to return because he is still working on strengthening his arm at that point.
