Red Sox Bolster Rotation with Sonny Gray Acquisition
The Boston Red Sox have finalized a strategic move by acquiring the experienced right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray, coming from the St. Louis Cardinals, thus strengthening their pitching staff for the upcoming season. In return, the Cardinals will receive left-handed prospect Brandon Clarke and right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts. Additionally, the Red Sox will contribute $20 million to cover part of Gray’s salary. Gray, 36, waived his no-trade clause to facilitate his arrival in Boston. The three-time All-Star had an outstanding season last year, with a 14-8 record and a 4.28 ERA, without missing any starts with St. Louis. Gray’s contract was modified to guarantee him $41 million: a salary of $31 million for next year and a mutual option of $30 million for 2027, with a $10 million buyout. With the addition of Gray, the Red Sox now have two of the five pitchers who have recorded at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons. Gray struck out 201 batters last season, after having achieved 203 in 2024. The Red Sox’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, had expressed the need to add a starting pitcher behind Garrett Crochet, and the deal for Gray provides Boston with significant depth in starting pitching heading into 2026. Behind Crochet and Gray are right-handers Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford, with several left-handed options for the end of 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 is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season. Although the Red Sox had shown interest in Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins, among other starting pitcher trade targets, they opted for a short-term solution with Gray, who has played in the Major Leagues for 13 years, being an All-Star in 2023. He has a career record of 125-102 with an ERA of 3.58 in 330 starts.When asked if Gray was the number 2 starter the Red Sox were looking for, Breslow replied: “I don’t know how much sense it makes in November to put a number on a guy.” Clarke, 22, with a fastball that can reach 100 mph, and a dangerous slider. He pitched 38 innings in Class A this season, striking out 60 and walking 27, with an ERA of 4.03. Fitts, who turns 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 and allowed 11 home runs in 45 innings.“We’ve been pretty transparent about our desire to add to the rotation, and our desire to add a bat,” Breslow told reporters on a conference call Tuesday. “I don’t think anyone wants to feel like they’re in the position of having to check off multiple items on the shopping list and feel like they’re running out of time or options. … But we certainly feel good about our current situation.”
Craig Breslow
“Both have the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time.”“[Fitts] has already begun his career in the Major Leagues, and with his power and his willingness to attack the strike zone, he has the ability to start games at the highest level for many years,” said Cardinals’ president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, who previously held that position with the Red Sox.
Chaim Bloom
