Sonny Gray Kenta Maeda deals Twins draft pick departure

Twins' pitchers Kenta Maeda and Sonny Gray find new homes, signing multi-million dollar deals with the Tigers and Cardinals.

The Twins' 2023 pitching rotation has seen some changes, as two of their pitchers, Kenta Maeda and Sonny Gray, have found new teams. Maeda has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $24 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, while Gray is reportedly headed to the St. Louis Cardinals on a three-year, $75 million deal. Gray's deal is worth more than $50 million, so the Twins will receive a draft pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A.

Gray, who declined the Twins' qualifying offer, had expressed a desire to test the free-agent market for the first time in his career. The Twins will now have to find a way to replace Gray, who finished as the American League Cy Young Award runner-up in his second season with the team. This will be a challenge for the Twins, especially as they are expected to cut payroll this offseason.

While the Twins have Chris Paddack to step into a rotation spot, adding another member to the rotation will be a priority for them. Paddack missed most of last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery before returning at the end of the year as a reliever. Gray, on the other hand, had a stellar season in 2023, posting a 2.79 earned-run average in 32 starts for the Twins. He threw 184 innings and did not miss a start all season. Maeda had a more challenging season, dealing with a rocky start and an arm injury before finishing with a 4.23 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) for the Twins.