Sonny Gray is getting his huge payday. The right-handed starting pitcher is finalizing a three-year, $75 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. After bouncing around from team to team via trade, Gray is reaping the full benefits of MLB free agency for the first time in his career.

Jon Heyman first reported that the Cardinals were closing in on a deal with the veteran. The team is desperate for starting pitching reinforcements following the departures of Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright (retired). This impending signing proves the organization is looking for a quick turnaround after a 71-91, last-place finish in 2023.

How Sonny Gray became a highly-coveted 2023 free agent

There have been plenty of ups and downs for Gray on the way to this big move, as his stock fell after he was traded to the New York Yankees in 2017. A brutal 2019 campaign could have easily marked the end of the Tennessee native's days as a front-end hurler, but he rebounded nicely with both the Cincinnati Reds and Minnesota Twins- whom he helped end a painfully long postseason drought in October.

Although it is not in the same tier as that of Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, Gray enjoyed a remarkable contract year in 2023. He posted a 2.79 ERA while recording 183 strikeouts in 32 starts for the Twins. The 34-year-old found his groove, earned his third All-Star selection and reminded fans that he can still be a reliable option at the top of a pitching rotation.

Multiple teams were cognizant of that fact throughout MLB free agency and were prepared to back up the Brink's truck to secure his services. In the end, though, the Cardinals won the Sonny Gray sweepstakes. He will be saddled with more pressure just as he was when he joined the Yankees, but this veteran has done an effective job of landing on his feet in recent years.