The Boston Red Sox have finalized the acquisition of veteran right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray in a move from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to reports this Tuesday. In the agreement, the Cardinals receive left-handed prospect Brandon Clarke and right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts. In addition, the Red Sox will provide $20 million to cover part of Gray’s salary. Gray, 36, waived his no-trade clause to join the Red Sox. Last season, the three-time All-Star posted a 14-8 record with a 4.28 ERA, not missing a start with the Cardinals. Gray’s contract was modified to guarantee him $41 million: $31 million for next year and a mutual option of $30 million for 2027, with a $10 million buyout clause. With Gray’s incorporation into the rotation, along with Garrett Crochet, the Red Sox now have two of the five pitchers who have achieved at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons. Craig Breslow, Red Sox’s chief of baseball operations, had indicated that reinforcing the starting rotation was one of the team’s goals for the offseason, and the deal for Gray provides Boston with significant depth in starting pitching for 2026. Behind Crochet and Gray are right-handers Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford, with several left-handed options for closing the rotation. Right-handed pitcher Hunter Dobbins, who suffered a torn ACL in July, is expected to be back for spring training. Veteran right-hander Tanner Houck underwent Tommy John surgery in August and will miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season. Although the Red Sox had shown interest in Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan, among other trade targets for the starting rotation, they opted for the short-term option with Gray, who has played in the Major Leagues for 13 years, being an All-Star in 2023. Gray has a career record of 125-102 with an ERA of 3.58 in 330 starts.
Clarke, 22 years old and with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, pitched 38 innings in Class A this season, striking out 60 batters but conceding 27 walks, with an ERA of 4.03. Fitts, who will turn 26 next month, had a 2-4 record with a 5.00 ERA in 10 starts for the Red Sox in his rookie season. He struck out 40 batters and allowed 11 home runs in 45 innings. “He has the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time,” said the Cardinals’ president of baseball operations.“We’ve been pretty transparent about our desire to add to the rotation, and our desire to add a bat,” Breslow commented.
Craig Breslow
