Cubs rival’s star ace drops comments that could mean reset is near

With Chaim Bloom set to take over the St. Louis Cardinals' front office this offseason, the impression is that the Chicago Cubs' division rival could be in line for a reset. Speculation almost certainly will point to the Cardinals looking to trade Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado, but beyond that, veteran starting pitcher Sonny Gray could be one of the top names on the trade market.

Like Contreras and Arenado, Gray holds a no-trade clause in his contract. The Cardinals' veterans have previously been unwilling to waive their no-trade clauses, with the idea being that the Cardinals could remain in contention. However, now with their third consecutive season of missing the playoffs and Bloom's arrival likely pointing toward a youth movement, Gray appears to be open to the idea of being traded this winter. At least, that was the impression of his comments to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"I think I do, just to be frank and to be honest. I definitely think I do. Whether I do decide that I want to go somewhere – whether that actually happens – I don’t have complete control of that. Obviously, I have control of where I can’t go or don’t go. I’m going to be 36. It’s going to be my 14th season. Last year of my contract for this. I don’t know what the future holds for me."

Sonny Gray may have tipped off a looming reset for Cubs rival

In 180 and 2/3 innings pitched this season, Gray has an ERA of 4.28 while striking out over 26% of the hitters he has faced. The underlying metrics suggest that Gray hasn't been helped by the Cardinals' defense, carrying an xERA of 3.88 with a FIP of 3.39.

This is the closest we've got to confirmation that the Cardinals will be resetting this offseason. Short of the Cubs being in the same division as the Cardinals, and players like Gray pitching elsewhere, it's hard to see Jed Hoyer's front office taking advantage of a potential sell-off. Trades between the Cubs and Cardinals are few and far between, and when the Cubs checked in on Arenado last offseason, the impression was St. Louis wasn't in favor of doing business with their hated rival.

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