St. Louis Cardinals veteran Sonny Gray, who declined the clubs offer to trade him, chose a simulated game to begin his spring schedule.

Sonny Gray is the anchor of the Cardinals' starting rotation, and the 13-year veteran feels like he has plenty left in the tank.

The St. Louis Cardinals had ... and free agency kicked off, the Cardinals struck quickly and made a few moves, including signing three-time All-Star Sonny Gray to a three-year, $75 million deal.

The chalked-in batters boxes on either side of home plate at the first of six aligned pitching mounds in the back of the St. Louis Cardinals’ complex told a different story. If the chalk is down, Sonny Gray is going to throw, and what might have been an off day instead became a pure distillation of a work day.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray works out in the bullpen with catcher Pedro Pages at spring training in Jupiter, Florida on Feb. 16, 2025. Video by Allie Schallert,

If the team couldn't move Nolan Arenado, they should have at least dealt closer Ryan Helsley and right-hander Erick Fedde.

Former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said that the team could surprise some in the 2025 season.